Regina Lynn of WIRED.Com writes about 10 Reasons I'd Rather Marry a Robot, citing ten reasons ("Robots have off-switches", "Accessories", and "... are sensitive"). But still concedes that relationships are more than just the perfections that we actually want to see.
In Love + Sex With Robots, Levy explains how human-robot love can become a reality. I believe him, but I also know you can't have a true partnership without risk. Having an unshakable, programmable partner would undoubtedly delete the human drama from the relationship. Or would it? I can easily see a person sobbing in a robot's arms, wondering why the marriage feels so ... empty.
A robot spouse could be perfect. Too perfect. A few years of slavish worship would be enough to ruin any of us. It's the occasional wobbliness that provides the challenges that keep a relationship interesting and real.
I agree. It is the little imperfections - that sometimes snowball to become big ones if left unattended - that make relationships relationships. And even then, the drama that ensues is interesting - and it is that which makes us human.
Anthropocentrism? Of course. It is. It is our reality.
And no, Regina Lynn, I don't think we need Windows for that. :)
