Three Thousand Souls

Abstract: We propose that virtue ethics can be used to address ethical issues central to discussions about sex robots. In particular, we argue virtue ethics is well equipped to focus on the implications of sex robots for human moral character. Our evaluation develops in four steps. First, we present virtue ethics as a suitable frame-work for the evaluation of human–robot relationships.Second, we show the advantages of our virtue ethical account of sex robots by comparing it to current instrumentalist approaches, showing how the former better captures the reciprocal interaction between robots and their users. Third, we examine how a virtue ethical analysis of intimate human–robot relationships could inspire the design of robots that support the cultivation of virtues. We suggest that a sex robot which is equipped with a consent-module could support the cultivation of compassion when used in supervised, therapeutic scenarios. Fourth, we discuss the ethical implications of our analysis for user autonomy and responsibility

Keywords: sex robots virtue ethics human–robot interaction ·empathy

Introduction: Some may find it hard to come to grips with sex robots. Yet recent events, like the 2015 Campaign Against SexRobots in the UK, the 2017 publication of John Danaher and Neil McArthur’s volume on the ethical and societal implications of robot sex [18], and the fourth incarnation of the International Conference on Love and Sex with Robots, show that this topic has captured the public’s eye and provokes serious academic debate. A recent report by the Foundation for Responsible Robotics[42] calls for a broad and informed societal discussion on intimate robotics, because manufacturers are taking initial steps towards building sex robots.

“Like consenting humans, a robot and its human partner will have to communicate carefully about the kind of interaction that will take place and the human will be confronted by the subject-like appearance and behavior of the robot. And in a relationship between humans, this communication could potentially result in the robot sometimes not consenting and terminating the interaction. Such interaction with a robot might prevent the practice of unidirectional behavioral habits and a resulting increased objectification of other humans.”