The Way Forward in the World of Robotics

Abstract

N. Sharkey exaggerated the dangers of robotics use in his Perspective on “The ethical frontiers of robotics” (19 December 2008, p. [1800][1]). Although the number of child-minding robots has increased in some countries, such technology should perhaps be regarded as a special case of ubiquitous medical computing, smart homes, and telemedicine; these are sources of ethical challenges, to be sure, but they do not warrant preying on emotions by invoking threats of child neglect and abuse ([ 1 ][2], [ 2 ][3]). Intuitively, we also suspect that nannybots are not good for the psychological development of children left in their care, but until empirical research demonstrates this, we must suspend judgment; such research might, in fact, find no harm at all. Similarly, we are as horrified and angry as Sharkey is when non-combatants are harmed by military robots, but whether such devices generally increase or reduce the number of civilian casualties is also an empirical question. The job of applied ethics is not limited to warning about worst-case scenarios. Rather, it must include the identification and analysis of challenges raised by new technologies and the identification of suitable precautions, constraints, and trade-offs required to protect safety, privacy, and liberty. Sharkey has made a start as regards robotics, but much more needs to be done. The agencies that fund these technologies should ensure that adequate resources are devoted to the analysis of concomitant ethical, legal, and social issues. 1. [↵][4]1. K. W. Goodman 1. K. W. Goodman , in Ethics, Computing, and Medicine: Informatics and the Transformation of Health Care, K. W. Goodman , Ed. (Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge, 1998), pp. 1–31. 2. [↵][5]1. K. E. Himma, 2. H. T. Tavani 1. K. W. Goodman , in The Handbook of Information and Computer Ethics, K. E. Himma, H. T. Tavani , Eds. (Wiley, Hoboken, NJ, 2008), pp. 293–309. [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.1164582 [2]: #ref-1 [3]: #ref-2 [4]: #xref-ref-1-1 View reference 1 in text [5]: #xref-ref-2-1 View reference 2 in text