ITC506 Assessment 4: Applying Ethical Theory to AI Rights

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SCHOOL OF COMPUTING AND MATHS, CHARLES STURT UNIVERSITY
If computers think for themselves, should they have human rights?
ITC506 201960 Assessment 4: Applying Ethical Theory
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Title of news/case study
1. Introduction
In this report, the analysis will be made regarding the various ethical issues by applying the
theories of classical ethics including virtue, utilitarianism, contract, and deontology. The
report mainly focuses on whether human rights should be given to computers. Bina48 is the
robotic head that speaks and looks like a person. Martin Rothblatt who is the owner of the
Bina48 in her book argues that intelligent software should deserve all the rights of blood and
flesh people. According to her someone who does not have a body can still afford the rights
of a human if they have a mind.
2. Analysis of applying ethical theories
Ethics of computers and artificial intelligence has become part of the technology ethics that is
specific to artificially intelligent beings and robots. The computer rights or robots rights is the
concept and the focus is made on the moral obligations that the people should have towards
their machines just like that have for animal rights or human rights. Various ethical theories
can be used for resolving the issues that are occurring due to this case study. There is causing
ethical imbalance issues due to artificial intelligence and with the application of the various
ethical theories, the solutions can be provided (Arntzenius, 2014).
2.1 Utilitarianism Theory
This theory helps in determining the right action that can tend to promote happiness. It
also determines the wrong actions that can result in producing the happiness reverse. This
theory is opposition to an egoism that focuses on pursing own self-interest. As per this
theory, it can be said that it is easy that the right thinks can be done from the bad motive.
The future cannot be predicted with utilitarianism as there is no certainty if the
consequences of the actions will be bad or good. This theory is very significant as the
consideration is taken for the community interest over the interest of the individual. The
moral worth is finding through this theory in the actions that can help in maximizing the
overall happiness. The attention of the theory is on the consequences. The consequences
of the actions should be such that result in the greatest happiness from the actions that
rebound. It is the objective theory that affords the method for making the calculations of
the actions that should be made regardless of the personal momentary or confusion
perplexity (Lubis, 2018).
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This theory can help in planning the ideas that are innovative concerning the computers
getting human rights or not and these innovative ideas will include the different
technological strategies. The impact that can be made on humans or the society if human
rights are given to the computers can be analyzed through this theory. This theory has
the benefit that it considers all the sentiments whether the pain or pleasure of not only
human beings but also the animals. Therefore, the sentiments of the robots or artificial
intelligence can be made with this theory.
2.2 Deontology Theory
According to this theory, human beings are morally obliged to act by a certain set of rules
and principles irrespective of the outcome. In deontology ethics, the consideration is
made of the actions that are morally good due to the characterization of the actions and
not due to the goodness of the product of the action. For the welfare of the human, some
of the acts are required to be morally obligatory irrespective of the consequences
(Monteverde, 2014).
The ideas can be implemented by the deontology theory regarding the ethical aspects that
are concerned with the human rights associated with the computers. The analysis will be
made if the actions are right or wrong under the rules set rather than the action’s
consequences. This theory will provide consistency and applies to all the people in
different situations. The problems can be solved by the application of deontology as per
which the rules and regulations should be obeyed unless there is a situation of emergency.
The personality responsibility of high level is created through this. It will also help in
creating the moral absolute and the value of every person will be empathized by this.
2.3. Virtue Theory
Virtue theory emphasizes the moral character or virtues in contrast to the different
approaches that emphasize rules or duties (deontology) or consequences’ actions
(consequentialism). These are the normative theory by which the emphasizes can be made
on the character, minds, and sense of honesty. The definition and nature of the virtues and
the related issues or problems help in focusing on the actions' consequences. Advanced
technologies can be implemented by this theory and various issues can be resolved
through this that is ethical. The reasons and motives will be harmonized that will satisfy
the virtuous person. It will map on the moral reasoning and will motivate to work with
morality through this the better people or artificial intelligence can be built and will focus
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on individuality development of moral reasoning. But this theory will not help in
encountering of the ethical dilemma (Barclay, et. al., 2012).
Different virtues of the computer or artificial intelligence will be encompassed by virtue
theory and will not attempt to worsen the things that have complexity by characterization
of the moral acts. It is the holistic approach that will study or consider the character traits,
skills, and emotions. The moral agent character will be focused or concentrated through
this which is one of the powerful attributes of this theory. The individual will be
motivated to have high regard for personal relationships and motivating or encouraging a
person to be sensitive and take care of the other people. The possibility can be made by
this approach for making them a better life or preserving the life that is better by giving
the computers with human rights. The set of guidelines will be provided through the
theory of virtue regarding what should be done and what should not be done.
2.4 Contract Theory
This theory considers the civic duty of the individuals concerning the society they live in.
By this, creativity is made of community sense instead of the isolated instances of
individuals. The privacy rules and regulations about ethical values and human rights
concerning computers can be made. It is the tenant of liberalism which can be defined as
the philosophy where the measurement can be made of the liberty value as the highest
political good in the society. With this ethical theory, suitable measures can be devised
regarding the improvement in technology that can aid in using artificial intelligence. It is
associated with political and moral theory. Innovation and development of the software
for enhancing the efficiency of human will help in building the advances and impact on
the human relationships concerning the technology. Technical and scientific resolutions
about the issues can be made through this theory by which the technology will be
broadening up and the resolutions can be attained. There should be logical provisioning of
the duties and rights of the computers. This theory aims at designing the justification
power of the sovereignty while others are intended for safeguarding the individual from
the oppression (McCalla & Shepherd, 2014).
3 Conclusion
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Hence, it can be concluded from the whole report that the ethical issues are arising to the
great extent in the society and with the application of the various ethical theories different
ethical issues can be resolved. The report discusses the case study of if the computers
think about themselves, should they be provided with human rights. Robots and artificial
intelligence are being used in the present era and ethical imbalances are being created by
them. The virtual theory implication will help in resolving these imbalances as through
this the proper and appropriate guidelines can be provided. The communication source
between the software and humans are ICT. ICT help in building effective communication
mediator. Value-driven with the theories of ethics will help in resolving the major issues
and the challenges imposed by artificial intelligence. The innovative technical strategies
can be planned by the Utilitarianism ethical theory. While all these innovative ideas can
be implemented by the use of the deontology theory and it also focuses on the actions and
consequences of giving the right to the computers regarding human rights. Through
contract ethical, the privacy regulations and rules can be made and this will help in
implementing the advanced technologies.
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References
 McCalla, S., & Shepherd, N. (2014). MORAL/ETHICAL ANALYSIS OF
PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENT IN SPORTS. International Journal of Arts &
Sciences, 7(4), 371.
https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy.csu.edu.au/docview/1644513222?
accountid=10344&rfr_id=info%3Axri%2Fsid%3Aprimo
 Lubis, M. Y. (2018). Land conversion to the poor people in the perspective of
utilitarianism theory by bentham. In E3S Web of Conferences (Vol. 52, p. 00053).
EDP Sciences. DOI: 10.1051/e3sconf/20185200053
 Arntzenius, F. (2014). Utilitarianism, decision theory and eternity. Philosophical
Perspectives, 28(1), 31-58. DOI: 10.1111/phpe.12036
 Barclay, L. A., Markel, K. S., & Yugo, J. E. (2012). Virtue theory and organizations:
considering persons with disabilities. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 27(4), 330-
346. DOI: 10.1108/02683941211220153
 Monteverde, S. (2014). Undergraduate healthcare ethics education, moral resilience,
and the role of ethical theories. Nursing ethics, 21(4), 385-401. DOI:
10.1177/0969733013505308
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