1 Thinking the Unthinkable

Before we get too far into investigating or asking about robot rights, it would be both expedient and prudent to clarify (or at least reflect critically on) what is meant by the seemingly simple words that comprise the terms of the investigation. “Robot” and “rights” are, at least at this point in time, both common and arguably well understood. We all know—or at least think we know—what a robot is. Science fiction literature, film, and digital media have been involved with imagining and imaging robots for close to a century. In fact, many of the most widely recognized and identifiable characters in twentieth and twenty-first century popular culture are robots: Robby the Robot of Forbidden Planet, Rosie from the Jetsons, Tetsuwan Atomu [Mighty Atom] or Astro Boy from Osamu Tezuka's long running manga series of the same name, William Joyce's Rolie Polie Olie, Lt. Commander Data of Star Trek: The Next Generation, R2-D2 and C-3PO of Star Wars … and the list could go on.