Many people view the imminent arrival of sexbots with anxiety or hostility. This chapter identifies several philosophical justifications that might be given for opposing sexbots. It argues that these justifications are not sufficient, on balance, to establish that the development of sexbots should be viewed as harmful. On the contrary, we should view their development as something that should be welcomed and promoted, and we should actively combat any stigmas that exist against robot sex. Sexbots can be a solution, if admittedly an imperfect one, to sexual deprivation, in situations where people are isolated from potential partners or have difficulty forming relationships. They can also help people in long-term relationships by addressing certain common problems that can arise in such relationships.
Introduces the issues and arguments of the book. Sets the stage for the arguments that follow by addressing preliminary questions: What are sex robots? Do any exist right now? Why should we care about their creation? Sex robots are coming. They are robots with humanlike touch, movement, and intelligence that are designed and/or used for sexual purposes. Their creation raises important philosophical, social, and ethical questions for users and the broader society.
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