Introduction

In recent years, the question of human moral duties toward robots has gained momentum in scholarly research due to great advancements in the fields of artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics. Although the current machines fall short of the level of sophistication and human likeness portrayed in science fiction (e.g., the Westworld series or the movie Blade Runner 2049), they are increasingly assuming roles in our society in various important areas, including manufacturing, healthcare, education, customer service, entertainment, and many others. This book makes a meaningful contribution to the ongoing philosophical discourse surrounding the moral treatment of robots. By providing a rigorous and systematic examination of key moral concepts (e.g., moral rights, moral status, moral considerability, and moral value) within the context of robotics and exploring other closely related issues (e.g., the moral implications of artificial consciousness and the associated epistemic challenges), this book offers fresh insights into the necessary and sufficient conditions for machine moral status and rights.