Technological Future of love Flashcards
Paper’s Aim
exploring some ways in which emerging technologies might lead to changes in how people relate to love, and articulate key responses one might have to these developments from our current point of view
Dual Nature of Love
First nature refers to those aspects of love that are amenable to scientific investigation (e.g., neurochemistry of romantic attachment, evolutionary history of human pair bonding, etc.)
Second nature refers to seeing love as a psychological and sociocultural phenomenon. Love is something that is subjectively experienced in a certain way, and which has particular kinds of values within a given cultural or historical context.
the dual perspective on love includes both of these views
Understanding Love in Terms of Three Components
Lust, Attraction and Attachment
Love as a Value
Love can be seen as a value, something that people desire, plan their lives around, and put high on their list of priorities.
It can be said to have its own inherent value, and not be a means to an end.
Western ideas about love
related to a good match between people in love
seen as people mutually valuing each other for the unique (irreplaceable) individuals that they are
involves some sort of long-term committment like marriage or having and raising children together
Methods of asssesing possible future developments in how people understand or value love
Comparing possible future ways to current ones
Check how possible future developments harmonise with current key, human values like personal autonomy and justice
Combine the above two (recommended by the author)
Power of Technology
technologies are not merely tools used for particular purposes but can significantly affect how we perceive, experience and value things
thus, they may also affect our perception of love
Three Classes of Technology that might change how we understand and value love:
- Quantified relationship technologies:
Technologies used to track, log or quantify various different aspects of romantic relationship. This might gamify aspects of love, leading us to give more importance to quantifiable aspects of love though this may not be in harmony with our current values.
- Love enhancement biotechnologies (Love Drugs):
Drugs or other technologies that could alter the biological dimensions of love to influence lust, attraction or attachment. Might help unnaturally maintain relationships, or facilitate the ends of some relationships, or help people recover from them.
- Humanoid Robots and Avatars intended for sex or romantic partnerships with humans
Challenges created by these technologies:
Quantity over quality:
Technologies that log or quantify different aspects of romantic relationships might motivate an excessive focus on those particular aspects of relationships that are actually measurable/quantifiable
Evaluative category mistake:
Love drugs may lead to an instrumental, medicalised way of valuing love. Love may no longer be seen as an end itself once we develop drugs to treat problems related to love, but rather love may be pathologised or seen as a means to an end. Love could be wrongfully framed as a mere instrument to other goods.
Superficial behaviourism:
Sex/romantic robots may put too much focus on outward behaviour while reducing the importance of people’s inner feelings about each other. Lovers would no longer be valued for the particular individuals that they are and their thoughts, feelings and motivations considered far less.
Possible Solutions
- Banning the development or use of the abovementioned technologies (authors disagree)
- Considering potential negative effects during the product’s development, use and regulation
Worries and concerns could be viewed as calling for improvements or new designs. One aspect of this could be introducing new technologies slowly to be able to foresee and combat negative impacts.
Conclusion
cautious optimism
genuine risks but also potential for good to be done
avoid both wishful thinking and knee-jerk opposition; promote deep and critical thinking
