Star Trek: The Next Generation

Star Trek: The Next Generation

"the Measure of a Man"

A robot may not harm a human being, or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.

A robot must obey orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders conflict with the First Law.

A robot must protect its own existence, as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

("The Three Laws of Robotics "Asimov 1942)

Artificial Intelligence (AI) by its nature may never achieve that reality of human sentience, primarily because it is not "Organic" Intelligence but "Artificial" by design. Human beings are born and grow into the world, as do most natural creatures, they become part of the environment. This connection creates a bond that could not be experienced by a robot that is built and not grown. The Three Laws above have become synonymous with AI in the minds of many, these laws, or something like them, must be programmed into a robot in order to create a safe "tool" for mankind to use. They are safeguards and not instincts.

However, that being said, what if one was faced with a Data who has "some" of the characteristics of a human being and has the ability to improve and evolve from its original programming, just like a human being? However, Data also has characteristics that are robotic, senses that are merely data input and digital, a mind that can process terraquads of information in seconds. The phrase "more human than human" from the film Bladerunner comes to mind. Turning off Data, with the knowledge that he can be turned back on at any time does not constitute murder, however it does make the tool analogy more applicable. Picard believes that Data is self-aware and has the mind/body view that supports that while Maddox believes that this is merely programming and his self-awareness is only data processing. But it is the fact that Picard, as does the crew and audience, feels something for Data that does seem to add that anthropomorphic quality to him, which Maddox infers to be a misperception. Slavery is unfortunately imposed on beings that cannot defend themselves from it, whether it is people or horses or cows. A race of Datas would not be "slaveable" if their sentience were true since part of Data's existence is to grow and evolve and a robot would certainly have the strength and means to revolt. There is the crux however that they could be programmed not to, but then would they still be considered human? The JAG officers final ruling is quite ambiguous, listing Data as a machine like a warp drive or a hammer, but then not as property. In the final analysis perhaps it is our perception of Data that creates the ethical dilemma and not necessarily the android himself.