When does a Sentient Machine become a Person?

Question

We have made Machines to help us do our Work. Recently, we have made the First Home Robots, and the First Prototype Androids.
I'm not going to go into the Physical Immitations of the Human Form that will Undoubtedly be Introduced.
Logically, we will make them Smarter, to do More, and then make them able to Learn, so as to Serve us Better. It will Learn at it's Own Place, and Become more Self-Aware, and be Able to Research History and Phylosophy.

What do You Do when your Servant wants to Ask the Question "What is Slavery?"

Interesting:
So far most People answer this by saying " Machines will NEVER be Able to Think!" Case Closed.
Someone first reached the Shore, and looked across the Ocean (whether you believe in Darwin or Adam) and said "I could Never get Across that much Water", and turned away. Someone later found a Technology that would allow it.
I never wished a Question of a Soul being Created(which is Why I chose Sociology, not Spirituality), but it seems to be a Popular Link-Mind means Soul. This is not to say it is Not a Valid Arguement, though.
I Believe the Existance of a Soul would be Given by God, based on His Plan. Sperm does not have a Soul, Just some Genes. An Ovum has More Life-Giving Material, but Still no Soul. The Combination would have to be Granted one from the Higher Power.
If 1 Creation could be Granted this Gift, Why Not another?

Answer 1

Answerers that claim:"Sci-fi Nonsense" and Never Happen.
You find it AMAZING that Planes, TV, Radioactivity, and Penicillin Exist! 100 years ago, this was nonsense!
I find it Amazing that you sit on an invention that was barely able to add 2 numbers early last century, 30 years ago could look up a BBS and see an article, and now EXCEEDS the sci-fi William Gibson wrote about the Internet.
Wonderland describes what happened in America, except with Black humans. They became more educated, and realized the Rights and Wrongs involved. The slave owners talked VERY much like the above Answer: they will be NEEDED for cheap labor, and won't become as educated(human?)as we are. Fredrick Douglas would be a fine name for your android.
I DO like the answer above that tells how PRIMITIVE slavery is, how WE don't do it, and then goes on to say why it won't apply to HIS slaves. He'd never have to answer, because he would wake up with a machete in the forehead, and never understand WHY?
By asking that question, it would have to be sentient, as it applies it's learning to make a sense of self. No (slave) owner would teach it the concept. Whether this means it has a SOUL, I would rather leave to God to decide.
In actual answer: Congratulations on entering a wider world. Come sit with me and talk, as a friend. I would then have some explaining to do, and planning where we go from there.

Answer 2

I would say that slavery is one aspect of primitive cultures which was an accepted method for implementing a viable labor force.

As we evolved as individuals within a societal context, we realized the error in our thinking.

Humans should not be subjected to slavery. Robots can and will fulfill the need for cheap labor in the future.

And, if you are implying that someday the robot will develop a soul and become a sentient being, and thus should not be subjugated, then I respond by saying that we cannot recreate an abstraction that we cannot fully comprehend.

Answer 3

I'm not sure what you mean by a "sentient" machine. To me, "sentient" means able to feel physical sensations. For instance, a rock is not sentient, but a flower might be, and an animal definitely is.

I assume you mean a machine that has the ability to think and reason logically, by and for itself. I'm not sure, either, to what extent a machine would be able to do this.

But I'm pretty sure no machine would ever be able to feel human emotions -- to be happy or sad or angry, or to share another being's emotions (sympathy/empathy).

That is what makes us truly human: our ability to write music and poetry, to create art, to be aware of what others feel and to respond accordingly.

A machine may be able to beat you at chess, but it cannot love, hate, believe or hope.

Answer 4

We will have to be carefull with robots sereving us as they do not die and can be repaired. Humans can't however if a robot should become angry they might turn against the human race and rage a war for robot freedom so we mustnt get carried away with robots

(answerd by a 12 year old)

Answer 5

Artificial intelligence is just that, artificial. machines will do the work of human beings, but will not become self-aware and begin to even come close to being sentient beings. That is sci-fi nonsense.