Justin Trudeau got some serious ribbing for his tomfoolery about space aliens and the Charter of Rights (he suggested, in answer to a silly question, that any space alien who became a citizen would be entitled to Charter rights).
Trudeau's response showed wit, humour and was legally quite correct. Of course the question was preposterous but it does raise the interesting issue of civil rights for non humans.
Leave aside animals -- as KFC showed animals, if lucky, are entitled to a quick death -- and consider computers.
It seems plausible that machines will, in the foreseeable future, become intelligent in a Turing test sense. And if they do are they entitled to civil rights? Perhaps? The situation reminds one of whether Rabbi Judah Loew the Maharal of Prague's Golem גלמי, could pray -- the answer, of course, must depend on whether the Golem has independent thought.
The base definition of humanity, for the purpose of civil rights, is sentience. That does not mean incompetent humans lose their rights, but it does mean that an intelligent Golem has rights. The form of the being is not the issue -- rather it is the nature of the ghost in the machine.
6 comments:
Dude, this is truly f'ing weird!
Actually the reference to a Turing tested computer is aposite. The Golem only looked intelligent; the Golem had no intelligence and was merely a creature of Rabbi Judah. Similarly a computer may look intelligent but is not. Only God can make a person -- even the Liberal Party does not have such power.
Justin needs to keep his mouth shut and not worry his pretty little head about politics.
His answer to any questions continually remind us that he is Margaret Trudeau's son and anything else is just speculation.
I have never heard anything intelligent come out of the man's mouth.
I am sure there are some rabbinical tests to prove parentage that might be a more appropriate allegory for Mr Trudeau's response to this and other questions.
Ouch! Whatever you may suggest, Justin is Pierre's son -- just look at his face (maybe ignore the brain, or space where one should be)
Hey - quit jumping all over Justin Trudeau. Whatever you say, the man has incredible personal appeal and charisma. I think he's done a lot to rally youth and get them engaged in the political process. I think he's great, will certainly become an MP in the next election and is destined to become the leader of the Liberal Party in the not-too-distant future.
You think this man should/will be leader of the Liberal Party why???
I remind you again, Margaret Trudeau is his mother.
If his parentage is the sole basis for this claim, which I assume it is as he has done nothing. nor said anything of note, the Margaret certainly cancelled out Pierre in Justin.
If you simply want someone with parentage to lead the Liberal Party, Pierre's daughter, whose mother is Deborah Coyne is a much better candidate.
Justin is an idiot. Sorry, a blathering idiot. He is his mother's son.
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