Asimov's “Three Laws of Robotics” and Machine Metaethics

Abstract

The chapter focuses on “The Bicentennial Man” for a discussion of Machine Metaethics. It argues that a good idea is to begin to make ethics computable by creating a program enabling a machine to act as an ethical advisor for human beings facing traditional ethical dilemmas. The ultimate goal of Machine Ethics, to create autonomous ethical machines, will be a far more difficult task. In particular, it will require that a judgment be made about the status of the machine itself, which is difficult to make. The chapter considers whether a robot like Andrew possessed the characteristics philosophers have considered necessary for having moral standing and so whether it was wrong to force him to follow principles that expected him to be a slave for human being. It finally argues that Asimov's “Three Laws of Robotics” are an unsatisfactory basis for Machine Ethics, regardless of the status of the machine.