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11 - States of Mind: From Zero to Specific Intent

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 October 2020

Gregory Scopino
Gregory Scopino
Affiliation:
Georgetown University, Washington DC
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Summary

Science fiction writers have frequently wrestled with questions relating to the ability of humans to understand the minds of robots and synthetic intellects. These works often portray robotic minds as functioning differently from those of humans. In some cases, analysis of someone’s mental processes and responses to specific situations is the only way to distinguish a human being from a robot. For example, one prominent protagonist in Isaac Asimov’s I, Robot collection of short stories is Dr. Susan Calvin, who is described as being a trailblazer the field of robot psychology. In Asimov’s stories, Dr. Calvin is the head “robopsychologist” for the fictional firm U.S. Robots and Mechanical Men, Incorporated. When a politician named Stephen Byerley runs for mayor of an unnamed major US city, Dr. Calvin is asked to determine if Byerley is a human being or a robot.

Keywords

Culpable mental statesnegligencestrict liabilitylegal causes of actionfinancial market regulation
Type
Chapter
Information
Algo Bots and the Law
Technology, Automation, and the Regulation of Futures and Other Derivatives
 , pp. 265 - 279
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2020

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