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Soldiers Bond With Bots, Take Them Fishing
HarryCaul writes "Soldiers are finding themselves becoming more and more attached to their robotic helpers. During one test of a mine clearing robot, 'every time it found a mine, blew it up and lost a limb, it picked itself up and readjusted to move forward on its remaining legs, continuing to clear a path through the minefield.' The man in charge halted the test, though - 'He just could not stand the pathos of watching the burned, scarred and crippled machine drag itself forward on its last leg. This test, he charged, was inhumane.' Sometimes the soldiers even take their metallic companions fishing. Is there more sympathy for Robot Rights than previously suspected?"
A quick google search of 'define: inhumane' returns: "lacking kindness" "lacking and reflecting lack of pity or compassion; 'humans are innately inhumane; this explains much of the misery and suffering in the world"; "biological weapons are considered too inhumane to be used' " If google is to be believed, inhumane has nothing to do with treatment of humans. Inhumane is simply a word for cruelty, regardless of species.
This sig is neither interesting, nor humorous. Including meta-humor.
the enemy is not human. If you stop for a second to think that they might be, you've just lost your life.
The GP is actually right about his conclusion -- that being 'inhumane' doesn't necessarily mean mistreating a human -- although his reasoning is off, as inhumane certainly is derived from 'human.' Saying that someone or something is inhumane means that they are acting inhuman. So if a person tortures a dog, that would be considered inhumane. Same with this test -- if you accept that it is cruel to the robot, then the test could be considered inhumane.
Not that I agree with that point of view, though.
How can we continue to believe in a just universe and freedom to eat crackers if we have no ale?
If I kick a puppy, I'm being inhumane because I'm not acting like a human "should". The recipient of my inhumanity is irrelevant. "Inhumane" references the humanity of the actor not the victim.
Human beings feeling pain isn't just ok, it's a critical requirement. This story relates the experiences of a family dealing with a child that, due to a rare genetic disorder, is unable to feel pain.
Imagine not having any stimulus to tell you that putting your hand in front of a blow torch is a bad idea. Not accidentally killing yourself becomes a bit of a challenge. Pain is an excellent instructional tool.
I may be wrong in my interpretation of it, but I believe that a court-martial is the appropriate response to his refusal. It is only in the court that he can present his arguments as to the legality of the conflict and thus the legality of his orders. One of the possible outcomes of the court-martial is confirmation that the orders were indeed illegal, and that he was justified in refusing to comply. Court-martial is not a punishment - it is a legal proceding that determines whether or not punishment is necessary.