Ethical Conundrums and Virtual Humans

Abstract

This paper explores ethical conundrums and virtual humans through building upon a post-Kantian framework, and one emerging from what is known as New Materialism. It begins by presenting the recent research and literature on virtual humans and suggesting that the central ethical conundrums that need to be examined are those of agency and values. The paper then argues that a combination of Luciano Floridi's approach and one developed from New Materialism, namely modest ethics, offers a means of engaging with the ethical conundrums of virtual humans. It is argued that as yet there is little evidence for a democratic design process for virtual humans nor is there evidence about the possible impact virtual humans may have on a postdigital society. The paper concludes by suggesting that there need to be more open processes for debate which bring to light the values that are being built into these profound developments by the experts and focuses on using a modest ethics approach.