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Current Issues with Sex Robots and Three Approaches to its Regulation

  • Korean Journal of Medical Ethics
  • Abbr : 의료윤리
  • 2020, 23(3), pp.209-222
  • DOI : 10.35301/ksme.2020.23.3.209
  • Publisher : The Korean Society For Medical Ethics
  • Research Area : Medicine and Pharmacy > General Medicine
  • Received : August 18, 2020
  • Accepted : September 14, 2020
  • Published : September 30, 2020

kim, Soo Jung ORD ID 1

1가톨릭대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

This article examines and evaluates the views of David Levy, Kathleen Richardson, and John Danaher on the ethical and legal issues involved in human-robot sex. While Levy welcomes the introduction of sex robots and extols the benefits of this technology, the other two writers are much more critical of sexual relationships with robots. Richardson campaigns against sex robots, warning that they will lead to the further objectification of women and commodification of sex; and Danaher, who considers a complete ban on sex robots unrealistic, argues that it is necessary to regulate and even criminalize particular sex robots, such as those embodying child sex abuse or rape fantasies. In a pluralistic society, individual freedom or autonomy should be respected as long as doing so does not cause harm to others or threaten public safety or social order. Therefore, this article defends a view similar to Danaher’s on policies concerning human-robot sex: it is argued that while sex robots should be permitted for individual use, the industry should be strongly regulated, and sex robots associated with rape fantasies or child sex abuse should be prohibited.

Citation status

* References for papers published after 2023 are currently being built.