Topic: Rights for Robots

Objective

This writing assignment will build on your analytical and argumentative skills, as you will be developing an argument using multiple sources as support. It also requires you to work synthetically, as you will be making meaningful connections among the different sources.

Prompt
Hutan Ashrafian’s articles “Artificial Intelligence and Robot Responsibilities: Innovating Beyond Rights” and “AIonAI: A Humanitarian Law of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics” published Sci Eng Ethics on 16 April 2014 and 11 January 2014 respectively discuss the possibility of granting rights to artificial intelligences that will be modelled on the Declaration of Human Rights. Moreover, the article “Ethics of Artificial Intelligence” published on Comment on 28 May 2015 presents the views of different scientists on the practical applications on artificial intelligence, whereas the article “Emotion, Cognition and Artificial Intelligence” written by Jason Megill and published on Minds & Machines on 11 September 2013 debates on the connection between emotional experience and cognitive ability.
Taking into consideration the above mentioned sources, express your opinion on whether robots should be granted certain rights and treated accordingly, or whether they can be regarded as machines at the disposal of humans.

Guidelines

Outline

I. Introduction
A. Opening Remarks
B. Presentation of Sources
C. In the same paragraph, state your own thesis: your response to the prompt (personal opinion) and reasons that support your claim.
II. Main Body
A. You will build your argument logically and coherently in the body
paragraphs. Each paragraph should be focused (it will discuss ONE
reason/argument), well structured (it will begin with a
clear topic sentence which introduces the reason you are analyzing in
it) and coherent (ideas will be well connected)
B. You will draw on personal beliefs/opinions and background knowledge,
and your sources.
Select quotations carefully, incorporate them smoothly in your text, (use quotations, paraphrases and summaries) and discuss them thoughtfully and fittingly showing why and how they
support your ideas.

III. Conclusion
Bring your essay into an end smoothly, restating your thesis,
or making some kind of statement or prediction about the topic of artificial intelligence.

Documentation Style: MLA
Length: 1000-1100 words.