Robot Sex: Social and Ethical Implications

by John Danaher (Editor), Neil McArthur (Editor)

Overview

Perspectives from philosophy, psychology religious studies, economics, and law on the possible future of robot-human sexual relationships.

Sexbots are coming. Given the pace of technological advances, it is inevitable that realistic robots specifically designed for people's sexual gratification will be developed in the not-too-distant future. Despite popular culture's fascination with the topic, and the emergence of the much-publicized Campaign Against Sex Robots, there has been little academic research on the social, philosophical, moral, and legal implications of robot sex. This book fills the gap, offering perspectives from philosophy, psychology, religious studies, economics, and law on the possible future of robot-human sexual relationships.

Contributors discuss what a sex robot is, if they exist, why we should take the issue seriously, and what it means to “have sex” with a robot. They make the case for developing sex robots, arguing for their beneficial nature, and the case against it, on religious and moral grounds; they consider the subject from the robot's perspective, addressing such issues as consent and agency; and they ask whether it is possible for a human to form a mutually satisfying, loving relationship with a robot. Finally, they speculate about the future of human-robot sexual interaction, considering the social acceptability of sex robots and the possible effect on society.

Contributors
Marina Adshade, Thomas Arnold, Julie Carpenter, John Danaher, Brian Earp, Lily Eva Frank, Joshua Goldstein, Michael Hauskeller, Noreen Herzfeld, Neil McArthur, Mark Migotti, Sven Nyholm, Ezio di Nucci, Steve Petersen, Anders Sandberg, Matthias Scheutz, Litska Strikwerda, Nicole Wyatt

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780262536028
Publisher:	MIT Press
Publication date:	09/11/2018
Series:	The MIT Press
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	322
Product dimensions:	6.60(w) x 8.70(h) x 0.90(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

John Danaher is a Lecturer in the Law School at the National University of Ireland, Galway, and the author of the popular blog Philosophical Disquisitions.

Neil McArthur is Associate Professor of Philosophy and Director of the Centre for Professional and Applied Ethics at the University of Manitoba. He is a regular contributor to VICE and the author of David Hume's Political Theory.

John Danaher is a Lecturer in the Law School at the National University of Ireland, Galway, and the author of the popular blog Philosophical Disquisitions.

Neil McArthur is Associate Professor of Philosophy and Director of the Centre for Professional and Applied Ethics at the University of Manitoba. He is a regular contributor to VICE and the author of David Hume's Political Theory.

John Danaher is a Lecturer in the Law School at the National University of Ireland, Galway, and the author of the popular blog Philosophical Disquisitions.

John Danaher is a Lecturer in the Law School at the National University of Ireland, Galway, and the author of the popular blog Philosophical Disquisitions.

Matthias Scheutz is Associate Professor of Cognitive Science and Computer Science at Tufts University.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments vii

I Introducing Robot Sex 1

1 Should We Be Thinking about Robot Sex? John Danaher 3

2 On the Very Idea of Sex with Robots Mark Migotti Nicole Wyatt 15

II Defending Robot Sex 29

3 The Case for Sexbots Neil McArthur 31

4 Should We Campaign Against Sex Robots? John Danaher Brian Earp Anders Sandberg 47

5 Sex Robots and the Rights of the Disabled Ezio Di Nucci 73

III Challenging Robot Sex 89

6 Religious Perspectives on Sex with Robots Noreen Herzfeld 91

7 The Symbolic-Consequences Argument in the Sex Robot Debate John Danaher 103

8 Legal and Moral Implications of Child Sex Robots Litska Strikwerda 133

IV The Robot's Perspective 153

9 Is It Good for Them Too? Ethical Concern for the Sexbots Steve Petersen 155

10 Was It Good for You Too? The New Natural Law Theory and the Paradoxical Good of Sexbots Joshua D. Goldstein 173

V The Possibility of Robot Love 201

11 Automatic Sweethearts for Transhumanists Michael Hauskeller 203

12 From Sex Robots to Love Robots: Is Mutual Love with a Robot Possible? Sven Nyholm Lily Eva Frank 219

VI The Future of Robot Sex 245

13 Intimacy, Bonding, and Sex Robots: Examining Empirical Results and Exploring Ethical Ramifications Matthias Scheutz Thomas Arnold 247

14 Deus Sex Machina: Loving Robot Sex Workers and the Allure of an Insincere Kiss Julie Carpenter 261

15 Sexbot-lnduced Social Change: An Economic Perspective Marina Adshade 289

Contributors 301

Index 305