Robotic Altruism:
I had an odd convo with a co-worker where we were wondering whether anyone could be TRULY altruistic, in the context of sushi chefs of all things.
I suggested that in order to be truly altruistic (the unselfish concern for the welfare of another human being with no benefit whatsoever personally) you need to shed the definition of what it means to be a flawed human.
I started thinking that maybe the only true, 100% pure altruism could come from a robot which is designed to look after the welfare of another human being. And so I wondered…..
If the absolute unselfishness comes from a robot does could I actually receive it with a full heart for the intention of what it was designed to do?
Or, is it more likely that our totally human, often flawed attempts at being altruistic are more meaningful because it’s coming from a context of a shared human experience temporarily overcome with the best efforts to be altruistic?
Like does it actually FEEL different because in spite of its flaws it’s the EFFORT involved to try to shed the humanity in that moment of unselfishness vs pure unfettered service from a being designed to do so.
Shortly thereafter I was all but ready to pitch Westworld meets Touched by an Angel (old school!) to HBO but then moved on to my avocado toast.