Abstract
The development of highly humanoid sex robots is on the technological horizon. If sex robots are integrated into the legal community as “electronic persons”, the issue of sexual consent arises, which is essential for legally and morally permissible sexual relations between human persons. This paper explores whether it is conceivable, possible, and desirable that humanoid robots should be designed such that they are capable of consenting to sex. We consider reasons for giving both “no” and “yes” answers to these three questions by examining the concept of consent in general, as well as critiques of its adequacy in the domain of sexual ethics; the relationship between consent and free will; and the relationship between consent and consciousness. Additionally we canvass the most influential existing literature on the ethics of sex with robots.
Highlights
The development of highly humanoid sex robots is on the technological horizon
If sex robots are integrated into the legal community as ‘‘electronic persons’’, the issue of sexual consent arises, which is essential for legally and morally permissible sexual relations between human persons
What is most important here is really what agential functions a robot could perform. Can it take in information about alternatives open to it and evaluate those alternatives on the basis of certain values and priorities that it operates on the basis of? Can the robot take a stance, based on the information it processes and its evaluation of its options? If a robot is able to perform these agency-functions, we think that it has enough by way of what can be considered as basic free will for it to make sense to regard the robot as giving consent
Summary
The company ‘‘TrueCompanion.com’’ claims to sell ‘‘the world’s first sex robot’’ According to the website advertising this robot, the company has spent ‘‘many years’’ developing Roxxxy, making sure that she: knows your name, your likes and dislikes, can carry on a discussion and express her love to you and be your loving friend. She can talk to you, listen to you and feel your touch. That is why our focus is on sex robots designed to be similar to human sex-partners.
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