NH2

0110

0110

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100

00

H OH

H

The Singularity ComethThe Singularity Cometh

Exponential TechnologiesExponential Technologies

&&

Evolving Notions of Personhood: Evolving Notions of Personhood: An Ethical & Legal Overview An Ethical & Legal Overview

for SU GSP 2012for SU GSP 2012

NH2

0110

0110

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100

00

H OH

H

Keep in mind…Keep in mind…

• ““The law operates through The law operates through a rearview mirror.”a rearview mirror.”

• What’s legal is not always What’s legal is not always ethical & what’s ethical is ethical & what’s ethical is not always legal.not always legal.

NH2

0110

0110

1110

100

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H OH

H

Also…Also…

• Many laws and policies are Many laws and policies are based upon an outdated based upon an outdated hierarchical worldview of hierarchical worldview of Earth Earth as the center of the Universe as the center of the Universe (pre-Galileo and Copernicus), (pre-Galileo and Copernicus), known as the “The Great Chain known as the “The Great Chain of Being.”of Being.”

NH2

0110

0110

1110

100

00

H OH

H

LMGlenn 4

GodAngelsManAnimals PlantsEarth

NH2

0110

0110

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H OH

H

Property – Personhood Dichotomy in LawProperty – Personhood Dichotomy in Law

Under this worldview, you were either Under this worldview, you were either person or property. BUTperson or property. BUT……

• Slaves, women, and children were Slaves, women, and children were regarded as mere chattel until mid-to-regarded as mere chattel until mid-to-late 1800’s and early 1900’slate 1800’s and early 1900’s

• Yet, nonhumans entities, such as Yet, nonhumans entities, such as corporations and ships have been corporations and ships have been recognized and given rights as recognized and given rights as “persons”“persons”

NH2

0110

0110

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100

00

H OH

H

Humans and Persons Humans and Persons

• Under current law in US, all humans Under current law in US, all humans are persons BUT, …are persons BUT, …

• All “persons” are NOT humans...All “persons” are NOT humans...(for example, corporations, municipalities, even (for example, corporations, municipalities, even ships have been granted status as persons by the US ships have been granted status as persons by the US Supreme Court, and in India, Hindu gods are Supreme Court, and in India, Hindu gods are persons)persons)

NH2

0110

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H OH

H

Evolution of the law and Evolution of the law and ethicsethics

• Exponential technologies will Exponential technologies will challenge traditions of personhoodchallenge traditions of personhood

• From dichotomy to continuum From dichotomy to continuum • From hierarchy to interdependenceFrom hierarchy to interdependence• At least three areas are currently in At least three areas are currently in

flux, with more to come… flux, with more to come…

NH2

0110

0110

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100

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H OH

H

First, reproductive technologiesFirst, reproductive technologies

• Frozen embryos (personhood Frozen embryos (personhood referendums)referendums)

• The definition of “viability” is The definition of “viability” is not fixednot fixed

• What will be the game changer?What will be the game changer?

NH2

0110

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100

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H OH

H

Linda MacDonald Glenn 9

The Advent of Ectogenesis and/or the The Advent of Ectogenesis and/or the Artificial WombArtificial Womb

NH2

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1110

100

00

H OH

H

Second, animal rights…Second, animal rights…

At least five states and about a dozen At least five states and about a dozen municipalities have either passed laws or municipalities have either passed laws or had courts recognize that companion had courts recognize that companion animals have a moral and legal status animals have a moral and legal status superior to inanimate property (Case superior to inanimate property (Case study, RI)study, RI)

Several more states have legislation Several more states have legislation pending to recognize the same.pending to recognize the same.

NH2

0110

0110

1110

100

00

H OH

H

Third, human machine Third, human machine mergersmergers

• Artificial organsArtificial organs• Smart ProsthesesSmart Prostheses• Genetic engineeringGenetic engineering• Regeneration or replacement Regeneration or replacement

with AI?with AI?• Here it comes…Here it comes…

NH2

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0110

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100

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H OH

H

CAN I REPLACE CAN I REPLACE MYMY

B O D B O D Y ? Y ? If I replace 95%If I replace 95%

of my body . . .of my body . . .. . . Am I still . . . Am I still “human”? A “human”? A “person”?“person”?(Case Study, (Case Study, Florida)Florida)

NH2

0110

0110

1110

100

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H OH

H

How does the law evolve?How does the law evolve?

Or where do rights come from? Or where do rights come from?

Examples: Courts, legislatures, Examples: Courts, legislatures, referendums, proclamations, UN referendums, proclamations, UN Declarations.Declarations.

NH2

0110

0110

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100

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H OH

H

Property-Personhood ContinuumProperty-Personhood Continuum(Possible Legal Paradigm)(Possible Legal Paradigm)

Property Property

(Inanimate Objects)(Inanimate Objects)

Full PersonhoodFull Personhood

(Attendant rights (Attendant rights & &

responsibilitiesresponsibilities))

Quasi-propertyQuasi-property

(Chimeric Humanoids)(Chimeric Humanoids)Fetuses EmbryosFetuses Embryos

Ex UteroEx Utero

Cyborgs Cyborgs AndroidsAndroids

A/IA/I

Negative LibertiesNegative Liberties

Biotechnology at the Margins of Personhood: An Evolving Legal Paradigm, J. of Evolution and TechnologyBiotechnology at the Margins of Personhood: An Evolving Legal Paradigm, J. of Evolution and Technology

Cognitively impaired Cognitively impaired

NH2

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H OH

H

As different forms of sentient beings and As different forms of sentient beings and cyborgs are created through exponential cyborgs are created through exponential technologies, if we don’t start thinking technologies, if we don’t start thinking policy NOW, the courts will be the ones policy NOW, the courts will be the ones to determine where these creations fall to determine where these creations fall on the continuum of personhood.on the continuum of personhood.

(And hard cases make bad law)(And hard cases make bad law)

NH2

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H OH

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The future?The future?

““We need not fear the We need not fear the Us Us versus versus ThemThem scenario as computers get scenario as computers get smarter, because we will be them. smarter, because we will be them. We will continually incorporate We will continually incorporate more and more computer more and more computer technology into ourselves and our technology into ourselves and our lives, until we become one with it..” lives, until we become one with it..” – Ray Kurzweil– Ray Kurzweil

((It’s already happening! How many of us It’s already happening! How many of us carry our PDAs or wireless devices his carry our PDAs or wireless devices his small wireless computer to our meetings (and everywhere else). When small wireless computer to our meetings (and everywhere else). When someone has a question no one can answer, in just a few seconds, we someone has a question no one can answer, in just a few seconds, we conjure up the answer with Google) conjure up the answer with Google)

NH2

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H OH

H

Thank you for your attention!Thank you for your attention!

• For further info, contact me:For further info, contact me:

lglenn3000@gmail.com or follow me on Twitter @lglenn3000