un: xspire

[synthsized]

At what point does something get the right to be called a person? What do they need to do to deserve that?

Has anyone ever thought about it?

Comments

un: madlad

[schmott_guy]

There's a million definitions about what makes a person that involve metaphysical variables like souls and love, but that's not much of an answer for a scientist. I've always felt that if you can discuss abstract concepts with it then it might as well be a person.

[synthsized]

Abstract concepts like what?

[schmott_guy]

"What makes something a person" is actually a pretty good example.

[synthsized]

I see. I suppose that's fair enough.

Do you often discuss what makes something a person?

[schmott_guy]

It's a topic of much debate in certain circles. When you're in the business of making more and more complicated and elaborate tools, at what point do you have to start giving your tools wages and living space instead of just tossing them in a box?

[synthsized]

There's not really a good answer for that, I suppose, beyond "when they ask for them".

[schmott_guy]

When your creations start asking for creature comforts, you either need to take them apart and start over, or buy them a drink and congratulate them for reaching sapience.

Which one depends on what you were going for.

[synthsized]

If they get to that point, would taking them apart be murder?

[schmott_guy]

Questions like that are why I generally stay away from creating life. It gets mess, morally and physically.

[synthsized]

Have you created life before?