Abstract
This article offers an overview of the main first-order ethical questions raised
by robots and Artificial Intelligence (RAIs) under five broad rubrics: functionality,
inherent significance, rights and responsibilities, side-effects, and threats. The first letter of each rubric taken together conveniently generates the acronym FIRST. Special attention is given to the rubrics of functionality and inherent significance given the centrality of the former and the tendency to neglect the latter in virtue of its somewhat nebulous and contested character. In addition to exploring some illustrative issues arising under each rubric, the article also emphasizes a number of more general themes. These include: the multiplicity of interacting levels on which ethical questions about RAIs arise, the need to recognise that RAIs potentially implicate
the full gamut of human values (rather than exclusively or primarily some readily
identifiable sub-set of ethical or legal principles), and the need for practically salient
ethical reflection on RAIs to be informed by a realistic appreciation of their existing
and foreseeable capacities.
by robots and Artificial Intelligence (RAIs) under five broad rubrics: functionality,
inherent significance, rights and responsibilities, side-effects, and threats. The first letter of each rubric taken together conveniently generates the acronym FIRST. Special attention is given to the rubrics of functionality and inherent significance given the centrality of the former and the tendency to neglect the latter in virtue of its somewhat nebulous and contested character. In addition to exploring some illustrative issues arising under each rubric, the article also emphasizes a number of more general themes. These include: the multiplicity of interacting levels on which ethical questions about RAIs arise, the need to recognise that RAIs potentially implicate
the full gamut of human values (rather than exclusively or primarily some readily
identifiable sub-set of ethical or legal principles), and the need for practically salient
ethical reflection on RAIs to be informed by a realistic appreciation of their existing
and foreseeable capacities.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 49-83 |
Number of pages | 35 |
Journal | Journal of Practical Ethics |
Volume | 7 |
Issue number | 1 |
Publication status | Published - Jun 2019 |