Wednesday, October 14, 2009

IRobot


Answer the following questions by Monday morning:

  • 1.) If in the future machines have the ability to reason, be self-aware and have feelings, then what makes a human being a human being, and a robot a robot?

  • 2.) If you could have a robot that would do any task you like, a companion to do all the work that you prefer not to, would you? And if so, how do you think this might affect you as a person?

  • 3.) Are there any kind of robots that shouldn't be created? Or that you wouldn't want to see created? Why?

  • 4.) Automation and the development of new technologies like robots is viewed by most people as inevitable. But many workers who lose their jobs consider this business practice unfair. Do you think the development of new technologies, and their implementation, is inevitable? What, if anything, should we as a society do for those people who lose their jobs?