Question

What are the potential advantages and disadvantages explored in the text regarding equipping machines with a sense of morality? Cite evidence from the text to support your answer.

Answer 1

Answer:

The potential advantages explored in the text, regarding equipping machines with a sense of morality are that they can be an asset to humans by being able to complete tasks and make wise, split-second life and death decisions; such as, when not to clear buildings with civilians in them during war situations. Paragraph 8 states that Ronald Arkin, a computer science professor and robotics expert at Georgia Tech, has been developing software, referred to as an “ethical governor”, which would make machines capable of deciding when it’s appropriate to fire and when it’s not.  Another advantage, as stated in Paragraph 9, is that machines will not be vulnerable to the emotional trauma of combat or to the desire for revenge. It will be free of emotions and emotional ties to other individuals and/or machines.

       The potential disadvantages explored in the text, regarding equipping machines with a sense of morality are that they could be a serious threat to human safety; especially since their moral compass will be based on that of a human’s.  That, within itself, leaves a lot to be desired.  In Paragraph 19, it states that human ethics are a work-in-progress, and we still confront situations for which we don’t have well-developed codes. The text also mentioned in Paragraph 9 that machines could evolve and get rid of us.

Explanation: