The Nature and Importance of Machine Ethics

James H. Moor

Normative notions have played a role in AI since its inception. The concept of intelligence is a normatively loaded notion. If every action counted as intelligent, AI would be very easy. But there are right ways and wrong ways to prove theorems, stack blocks, and make diagnoses. If there is a debate about machine ethics, then it is a debate about ethics or the capabilities of machines and not about the essential role of normativ- ity within computing.
