David Gunkel's The Machine Questions

Humans have been around for thousands of years. They have certain traits that are distinctive from other species. Although some of these qualities are the ability to think logically, create speech, and to have free will, what does it actually mean to be human? Throughout time, this age-old question has been up for debate through different viewpoints. Now that technology is evolving at a rapid pace, it is natural to compare these technological advancements with humans. As discussed in The Machine Question, David J. Gunkel challenges his readers to understand the fundamental questions that relate to our perspectives on smart machines and artificial intelligence (Gunkel 1). He addresses machines as moral agents, and whether they deserve to have

Throughout the years, a variety of people have tried to answer this question through scientific research and spiritual practice. Since many different viewpoints were brought up by this issue, it is better to make an effort to understand humans on a deeper level. To enumerate, there are certain traits that sets humans apart from other species. What differentiates humans from animals is their ability to conduct speech, have abstract thoughts, and to be conscious. In The Machine Question, Gunkel uses the terms moral agency and moral patiency to help him define what a human is (Gunkel 15). Moreover, a moral agency is an individual’s ability to distinguish right from wrong and then being held accountable for one’s moral actions (Gunkel 16). Unlike moral agents, moral patients lack the ability to act on moral principles (Gunkel 16). Although they can bring great pain to the people around them, they cannot be held accountable for their actions. Humans are both moral agents and moral patients. Up until now, only humans were affiliated with the term ‘agency’ (Gunkel 17). Everything else, such as plants or inanimate objects, were on the outside of the realm. Machines are typically considered as tools used to reduce the human workload. Gunkel ignores the traditional concept of these technological devices by posing a question that forces his readers to think ethically (Gunkel 1). If machines were given the ability to display agency and

In the world of science and technology, there has been a huge debate between man vs. machine and whether machines deserve ethical consideration. While some people only view these machines as tools used to simplify our daily lives, others consider them as human. David J. Gunkel and Mary Shelley both do an excellent job at defining what a human is. Since technology is advancing at a rapid pace, Gunkel’s argument promises to influence the ethical consideration of the entities that are or will inhabit the world (Gunkel 1). Adding on to Gunkel’s moral claim, Shelley uses her novel to display the creature’s attempt at humanization and how he is human by nature. Furthermore, machines (and other entities) should be given ethical consideration if they are self-aware and have the ability to make moral