In this blog post, I will examine various perspectives on whether artificial intelligence can possess emotions, empathize with humans, and coexist as an equal to humans, and I will summarize my own thoughts on the matter.   Can Artificial Intelligence Have Emotions? Ray Kurzweil, author of ‘The Birth of the Mind’, argued that we should view artificial intelligence—which possesses...

In this blog post, we’ll examine—based on examples of AI androids from movies—the extent to which robots’ economic freedom and social rights can be recognized, and how humans and robots can coexist.   The film ‘The Bicentennial Man’ (1999) tells the story of “Andrew,” an AI android, and his journey from being a mass-produced household android to being recognized as a human...

In this blog post, we’ll examine why human altruistic behavior occurs based on the repetition-reciprocity hypothesis and explore its significance and limitations.   How can human altruism be explained? Before studying humans from the perspective of evolutionary biology, there is one important assumption: that humans are inherently selfish. It is believed that humans live to pursue their own...

In this blog post, we’ll examine why altruistic behaviors—which seem evolutionarily disadvantageous—have persisted to this day, using the costly signaling hypothesis.   Why Do Altruistic Behaviors Persist? We often hear news stories about people who, despite an announcement that a subway train is about to arrive, jump onto the tracks without hesitation to rescue someone who has fallen...

In this blog post, we’ll examine how altruistic behavior has been maintained throughout the course of evolution, focusing on the “costly signaling” hypothesis.   Altruistic Behavior and the Costly Signaling Hypothesis In our daily lives, we often see people helping others—whether by voluntarily donating to support neighbors in need, giving blood and dedicating their time, or willingly...

In this blog post, we’ll explore the necessity, ethical issues, and scientific validity of animal experiments used in the development of pharmaceuticals and various products, as well as potential alternatives to animal testing.   Are Animal Tests Really Necessary? With advances in medical technology today, vaccines have been developed to prevent various infectious diseases such as polio...

In this blog post, I will examine the issue of private seating in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering’s study room from the perspectives of the study room’s purpose, utilitarianism, and equality, and through this, reflect on what kind of ethical consciousness is necessary for engineers.   Why does the problem of seat hoarding in the study room keep recurring? On November...

In this blog post, we’ll explore the history of doping, the effects of banned substances, the scientific principles behind doping tests, and the emergence of new doping techniques designed to evade detection.   Why has doping become a problem in sports? The article “The Bowed-Head ‘Marine Boy’ and the Temptation of Steroids” in ‘Science Dong-A’ addresses the controversy...

In this blog post, I will examine the explanation of reciprocal altruism presented in ‘The Selfish Gene’ from the perspectives of the theory of the selfish gene and game theory, and I will critically review the implications and limitations of applying evolutionary game theory to biological behavior in nature.   Explaining Reciprocal Altruism in Animals Through the Theory of the...

In this blog post, I will examine the theory of kin selection as explained by Richard Dawkins in ‘The Selfish Gene’, and explore altruistic and selective behaviors in animals—which are difficult to explain solely through kinship—from the perspectives of environmental factors and social interactions.   Introduction Richard Dawkins’ ‘The Selfish Gene’ explains the...