Robotic Evolution

Abstract

Chapter 1 examines the myths, legends and history of robots, emphasising how the desire for robots has always been with us. We see where these desires for sex robots stemmed from, and what they mean in a global context. Starting with the Greeks, and moving up to the present day, the importance of Margaret Atwood's work, especially her novel The Heart Goes Last is stressed. Many examples are examined, from children's books and films, to works of philosophy. Using a variety of thinkers, such as theologian Karen Armstrong, this opening chapter explains where the fears connected to the sex robot stem from. Sex robots – or sexbots as they are sometimes called – are constantly crop-ping up in contemporary media discourse. Clearly, the sex robot symbolises far more than a human-made object to have sex with. Questions concerning difference and otherness, known as alterity, are central to discussions over sex robots. The sex robot challenges what it means to be human and simulta-neously enables us to reflect on human nature itself. So, are we in the age of