While watching this film, the novel "Klara and the Sun" (Kazuo Ishiguro, 2021) came to my mind. Here the protagonist is also an artificial being, constructed to emulate human qualities. Now, it is often stated that robots could morally be "the better humans". But is this really true for both Elli and Klara in the same way? Let's have a look at the different narratives and find out if there are different perspectives on this question.
In "The Trouble with Being Born," the protagonist is Elli, an android who serves as a companion to a man who has lost his daughter. Elli is designed to fulfill the emotional needs of her owner, replicating a lost human connection. The film delves into themes of memory, identity, and the ethical implications of creating beings to serve human desires.
Elli's memories are programmable and not her own, highlighting the artificiality of her existence. This raises questions about what it means to have an identity when one's memories can be manipulated or erased. She is designed to satisfy the emotional needs of humans, yet her own emotional experiences are limited or non-existent. This creates a dynamic where she is an object rather than a subject with her own desires and autonomy.
Therefore the film questions the morality of creating beings like Elli for companionship, suggesting that this could lead to the exploitation and objectification of artificial beings.
Klara, in "Klara and the Sun", has also been created as a companion, but this time only as a so-called Artificial Friend (AF) designed to share the life of children. Klara is highly observant and empathetic, learning about the world and human emotions through her interactions. Her observations and actions often reflect a profound sense of care and consideration for others. And, on top of that, she shows a willingness to sacrifice for the well-being of her human companions. This demonstrates qualities traditionally associated with ideal human behavior -selflessness and altruism.
Klara's experiences raise questions about what it means to be human. Her ability to love and her moral choices suggest that artificial beings can embody the best aspects of humanity, sometimes even surpassing their human counterparts.
When we compare these two works of art, we find out that both present robots as beings designed to mimic human behavior. Yet they do so in contrasting ways that reflect different aspects of humanity.
In "The Trouble with Being Born," Elli's purpose is to serve as a surrogate for a lost human, highlighting themes of loss and the ethical issues surrounding artificial companionship. In contrast, Klara's purpose is to be a friend and caregiver, emphasizing themes of empathy and the moral dimensions of artificial life.
Elli's lack of personal autonomy and her existence as an object for human use contrasts with Klara's more autonomous and morally driven actions. This difference underscores the varying degrees to which robots can be considered "better" humans based on their capacity for independent thought and moral agency.
Klara's ability to form deep emotional connections and her capacity for self-sacrifice suggest that robots can embody the best of human emotions and behaviors. Elli, on the other hand, serves as a reflection of human desires and the potential emptiness of relationships built on artificiality.
So Klara is the clear winner in this contest of being "a better human". Her empathetic and self-sacrificing nature suggests that robots can indeed exhibit qualities that might be considered superior to those of humans. Conversely, Elli's existence just raises ethical concerns and questions the morality of creating artificial beings for human gratification.
In "The Trouble with Being Born," the protagonist is Elli, an android who serves as a companion to a man who has lost his daughter. Elli is designed to fulfill the emotional needs of her owner, replicating a lost human connection. The film delves into themes of memory, identity, and the ethical implications of creating beings to serve human desires.
Elli's memories are programmable and not her own, highlighting the artificiality of her existence. This raises questions about what it means to have an identity when one's memories can be manipulated or erased. She is designed to satisfy the emotional needs of humans, yet her own emotional experiences are limited or non-existent. This creates a dynamic where she is an object rather than a subject with her own desires and autonomy.
Therefore the film questions the morality of creating beings like Elli for companionship, suggesting that this could lead to the exploitation and objectification of artificial beings.
Klara, in "Klara and the Sun", has also been created as a companion, but this time only as a so-called Artificial Friend (AF) designed to share the life of children. Klara is highly observant and empathetic, learning about the world and human emotions through her interactions. Her observations and actions often reflect a profound sense of care and consideration for others. And, on top of that, she shows a willingness to sacrifice for the well-being of her human companions. This demonstrates qualities traditionally associated with ideal human behavior -selflessness and altruism.
Klara's experiences raise questions about what it means to be human. Her ability to love and her moral choices suggest that artificial beings can embody the best aspects of humanity, sometimes even surpassing their human counterparts.
When we compare these two works of art, we find out that both present robots as beings designed to mimic human behavior. Yet they do so in contrasting ways that reflect different aspects of humanity.
In "The Trouble with Being Born," Elli's purpose is to serve as a surrogate for a lost human, highlighting themes of loss and the ethical issues surrounding artificial companionship. In contrast, Klara's purpose is to be a friend and caregiver, emphasizing themes of empathy and the moral dimensions of artificial life.
Elli's lack of personal autonomy and her existence as an object for human use contrasts with Klara's more autonomous and morally driven actions. This difference underscores the varying degrees to which robots can be considered "better" humans based on their capacity for independent thought and moral agency.
Klara's ability to form deep emotional connections and her capacity for self-sacrifice suggest that robots can embody the best of human emotions and behaviors. Elli, on the other hand, serves as a reflection of human desires and the potential emptiness of relationships built on artificiality.
So Klara is the clear winner in this contest of being "a better human". Her empathetic and self-sacrificing nature suggests that robots can indeed exhibit qualities that might be considered superior to those of humans. Conversely, Elli's existence just raises ethical concerns and questions the morality of creating artificial beings for human gratification.
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