ROBOTS 119
put, emotions are good for us. They helped us to survive in the forest,
and even today they help us to navigate the dangers of life.
For example, "liking" something is very important evolutionarily,
because most things are harmful to us. Of the millions of objects that
we bump into every day, only a handful are beneficial to us. Hence to
"like" something is to make a distinction between one out of the tiny
fraction of things that can help us over against the millions of things
that might hurt us.
Similarly, jealousy is an important emotion, because our reproductive success is vital in ensuring the survival of our genes to the next
generation. (In fact, that is why there are so many emotionally charged
feelings related to sex and love.)
Shame and remorse are important because they help us to learn
the socialization skills necessary to function in a cooperative society. If
we never say we're sorry, eventually we will be expelled from the tribe,
diminishing our chances of surviving and passing on our genes.
Loneliness, too, is an essential emotion. At first loneliness seems to
be unnecessary and redundant. After all, we can function alone. But
longing to be with companions is also important for our survival, since
we depend on the resources of the tribe to survive.
In other words, when robots become more advanced, they, too,
might be equipped with emotions. Perhaps robots will be programmed
to bond with their owners or caretakers, to ensure that they don't wind
up in the garbage dump. Having such emotions would help to ease
their transition into society, so that they could be helpful companions,
rather than rivals of their owners.
Computer expert Hans Moravec believes that robots will be programmed with emotions such as "fear" to protect themselves. For example, if a robot's batteries are running down, the robot "would express
agitation, or even panic, with signals that humans can recognize. It
would go to the neighbors and ask them to use their plug, saying,
'Please! Please! I need this! It's so important, it's such a small cost! We'll
reimburse you!' "
Emotions are vital in decision making, as well. People who have
suffered a certain kind of brain injury lack the ability to experience
put, emotions are good for us. They helped us to survive in the forest,
and even today they help us to navigate the dangers of life.
For example, "liking" something is very important evolutionarily,
because most things are harmful to us. Of the millions of objects that
we bump into every day, only a handful are beneficial to us. Hence to
"like" something is to make a distinction between one out of the tiny
fraction of things that can help us over against the millions of things
that might hurt us.
Similarly, jealousy is an important emotion, because our reproductive success is vital in ensuring the survival of our genes to the next
generation. (In fact, that is why there are so many emotionally charged
feelings related to sex and love.)
Shame and remorse are important because they help us to learn
the socialization skills necessary to function in a cooperative society. If
we never say we're sorry, eventually we will be expelled from the tribe,
diminishing our chances of surviving and passing on our genes.
Loneliness, too, is an essential emotion. At first loneliness seems to
be unnecessary and redundant. After all, we can function alone. But
longing to be with companions is also important for our survival, since
we depend on the resources of the tribe to survive.
In other words, when robots become more advanced, they, too,
might be equipped with emotions. Perhaps robots will be programmed
to bond with their owners or caretakers, to ensure that they don't wind
up in the garbage dump. Having such emotions would help to ease
their transition into society, so that they could be helpful companions,
rather than rivals of their owners.
Computer expert Hans Moravec believes that robots will be programmed with emotions such as "fear" to protect themselves. For example, if a robot's batteries are running down, the robot "would express
agitation, or even panic, with signals that humans can recognize. It
would go to the neighbors and ask them to use their plug, saying,
'Please! Please! I need this! It's so important, it's such a small cost! We'll
reimburse you!' "
Emotions are vital in decision making, as well. People who have
suffered a certain kind of brain injury lack the ability to experience