ROBOT AUTONOMY AND POST-LABOR UTOPIA

Abstract

This paper begins with John Perry’s thesis that self-location is essential for action, aiming to demonstrate that artificial systems can achieve autonomy, even though they lack consciousness, as long as they are capable of self-location. The argument draws on Jenann Ismael’s view that intelligence, as a function of a system’s internal structure representing the world, does not merely mirror reality but creates links between the system’s internal elements and external space, guiding the body’s movement in the correct direction. The notions of intelligence and autonomy in robots are not far-fetched but rather concepts that can be thoroughly developed and realized by constructing information systems capable of solving practical problems independently and acting autonomously. As a result, we can expect autonomous machines to become part of everyday life in the future. Philosopher Nick Bostrom, in his book Deep Utopia: Life and Meaning in a Solved World (2024), explores post-work utopias, envisioning societies that have fully automated, thereby eliminating the need for work. Bostrom’s thought experiment of a “solved world” – where all life’s problems are resolved, and technological advancement has removed the need for human work, giving people the freedom to shape their lives – overlooks the idea that work is integral to how humans create meaning and values. A future where autonomous machines are commonplace raises new questions and challenges, as work plays a crucial role in human self-determination. There is a risk that a world dominated by intelligent and autonomous machines could lead to humans becoming enslaved by their own ideas, both in terms of values and scientific-technological constructs.