The Pale Cast of Thought: on the Legal Status of Sophisticated Androids

Abstract

There seem to be two schools of thought on the legal status of sophisticated androids. One view, associated with the philosopher Hilary Putnam, is that we ought to take advantage of the fact that sophisticated androids do not yet exist in order to think about the problem in a relatively disinterested and a politically more liberal, inclusionary way. The contrasting view is that we can best decide such cases on the basis of our personally lived experiences with sophisticated androids. It is certainly arguable that it is easier to marginalize those with whom we are unfamiliar, as opposed to those with whom we have personal experience.