Noel Sharkey’s Paper, “The Ethical Frontiers of Robotics”

Read the following paper, which you should be able to find at http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/322/5909/1800 :

Sharkey, Noel, “The Ethical Frontiers of Robotics”, Science 19 December 2008: Vol. 322. no. 5909, pp. 1800 – 1801.

1) Sharkey first discusses the use of robots as people tenders.

a) What do you see as the main benefits to be obtained by using robots in this way?

b) What do you see as the main risks?

c) Describe briefly what you see as a reasonable balance between reward and risk for this use of robots.

2) Next Sharkey talks about the use of robots on the battlefield.

a) What do you see as the main benefits to be obtained by using robots in this way?

b) What do you see as the main risks?

c) Describe briefly what you see as a reasonable balance between reward and risk for this use of robots.

For parts a) and b), it is fine to write bulletized lists. For part c, we want a paragraph or two. Short responses are fine. We are looking for insight and clarity. Particularly in part c) we are expecting to get widely divergent views. There is no right answer. We just want careful thinking about the issues.