Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2001 22:39:54 +0100
From: Jan Straathof <janstr-AT-chan.nl>
Subject: Re: indifference


on Mon, 16 Jul 2001 16:30:15 <rbakker-AT-bs18.bs.uva.nl> wrote

>Lately I saw a Japanese robotist on tv, together with his robot.
>He said: That man is more than a robot, is a Western prejudice.
>We Asians treat robots as equals. We can't be accused of discrimination.

hmm, nice observation Rene,

one (as a humble western) wonders what kind of meaning the
word "discrimination" here has for this japanese (scientist i
presume),

i mean, do we understand really his statement that "Asians treat
robots as equals", -- what kind of equality is he referring to here ?

for me, the use of the word "discrimination" only makes sense in
relation to certain socio-political contexts and practices (e.g. gender-,
race-, class-, age discrimination etc.)

it seems our japanese friend is conceiving (or granting) his robot
as possessed with a socio-political subjectivity (autonomity)

which leads us to the following question:

- but will the A.I.-machine treat us humans as equals ?

[or -will robots treat Asians as equals ?- yet all this depends on
whether we are ever able to build an A.I.-machine that is 'itself'
(sic.) capable of understanding the meaning of words like
"discrimination" and "equality", but until that moment it doesn't
make much sense to talk about robots being our equals.]

time for some more saki, i guess ;-)

yours,
Jan




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