Do Androids Have Human Rights?

Do Androids Have Human Rights?

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Abstract

The question “Do androids have human rights?” is very important and difficult philosophical and ethical issue. To answer this, it is necessary to identify the key qualities of a human. Is the intellect the only one feature of the man? Or feelings, wishes, consciousness and own personality are significant too? Opinions of noted philosophers Rene Descarte, Paul d'Holbach, Thomas Aquinas and Thomas Nagel were viewed in this essay. In the result, we have the conclusion that the android looks like the man, but is not the man.

Keywords: android, human, intellect, free will, subjective experience

Do Androids Have Human Rights?

This essay is based on the 35th episode of the science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation “The Measure of a Man”. To answer the question “Do androids have human rights?” we need to understand, it is human or not?

Answering on the questions of the prosecutor, Data said that android is “an automaton made to resemble a human being”. He looks like a man, but is not a man.

Somebody can say that Data has the main human characteristic – intellect. But there is a difference between presence of knowledge and ability to think. Rene Descartes’ famous phrase “I think, therefore I am” (1912) confirms his attitude to the thinking as the most important feature, which distinguishes humans from all living and non-living objects. In the case of an android, we can talk only about knowledge. All his actions are the result of the programmed information, not mind conclusion. He acts on available algorithms. Data can not choose options basing on feelings, intuition or own judgment.

The other important human feature is free will. The French philosopher Paul d’Holbach (1817) argued that a man is part of nature and therefore is subject to its laws. He denied free will because of the causation of human behavior. According to him, “no...