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| + | '''Ethical subroutines''' are a programmatic method to describe the characteristics by which [[Artificial intelligence|artificial lifeforms]], like [[Lieutenant commander|Lieutenant Commander]] [[Data]] or [[Lore]]; and [[holograms]], like [[The Doctor]], determine what is [[Ethics (philosophy)|ethically]] right and wrong. |
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| − | An '''ethical program''' was a special routine written by [[Doctor|Dr.]] [[Noonien Soong]] to allow his [[Soong type android|Soong-type androids]] to tell the difference between right and wrong, as well as apply morals to their existence. |
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| + | In [[2369]], Lore disabled Data's ethical subroutines and made him perform dangerous experiments on the [[Borg]] and [[Geordi La Forge]]. With no moral obligation to his friend, Data no longer cared if he hurt La Forge. ({{TNG|Descent}}) |
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| − | [[Data]] suffered a shutdown of his program during his abduction by [[Lore]] and his renegade [[Borg]]. Upon reactivation of his ethical subroutines he was able to resist Lore's will for him to continue being villainous. ({{TNG|Descent|Descent, Part II}}) |
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| + | Aboard the [[USS Voyager|USS ''Voyager'']] in [[2375]], The Doctor developed a feedback loop between his cognitive and ethical subroutines after making a subjective decision which cost the life of a crewmember, [[Ahni Jetal]]. As a result, he began to have a "mental breakdown" of sorts, berating himself and his abilities as a [[doctor]] and blaming himself for Jetal's [[death]]. ({{VOY|Latent Image}}) |
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| − | :''It is surmised that Soong installed this ethical program in all of his androids, but as shown by Lore's maliciousness, the program installed in his positronic brain was flawed. B-4, childlike in nature, most likely had similar software installed. This most likely is a reference to [[Isaac Asimov (author)|Isaac Asimov]]'s [[wikipedia:Three Laws of Robotics|"Three Laws of Robotics"]], the mainstay of which was to do no harm to any living being intentionally.'' |
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| + | The crew of the [[USS Equinox|USS ''Equinox'']] disabled their [[Emergency Medical Holographic program|EMH]]'s ethical subroutines so that he would not object to killing [[Nucleogenic lifeform]]s to increase the ''Equinox'''s [[warp drive|warp]] power. In late 2375, the ''Equinox'' crew also disabled The Doctor's ethical subroutines, and, in his altered state, he extracted information from [[Seven of Nine]]'s Borg implants. After his ethical subroutines were restored, the Doctor apologized to Seven, but she assured him she bore him no ill will, and offered to help him modify his program so that future attempts to tamper with it would be much more difficult. ({{VOY|Equinox|Equinox, Part II}}) |
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[[Category:Computer technology]] |
[[Category:Computer technology]] |
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| + | [[de:Ethische Subroutine]] |
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Revision as of 18:49, 13 January 2008
Ethical subroutines are a programmatic method to describe the characteristics by which artificial lifeforms, like Lieutenant Commander Data or Lore; and holograms, like The Doctor, determine what is ethically right and wrong.
In 2369, Lore disabled Data's ethical subroutines and made him perform dangerous experiments on the Borg and Geordi La Forge. With no moral obligation to his friend, Data no longer cared if he hurt La Forge. (TNG: "Descent")
Aboard the USS Voyager in 2375, The Doctor developed a feedback loop between his cognitive and ethical subroutines after making a subjective decision which cost the life of a crewmember, Ahni Jetal. As a result, he began to have a "mental breakdown" of sorts, berating himself and his abilities as a doctor and blaming himself for Jetal's death. (VOY: "Latent Image")
The crew of the USS Equinox disabled their EMH's ethical subroutines so that he would not object to killing Nucleogenic lifeforms to increase the Equinox's warp power. In late 2375, the Equinox crew also disabled The Doctor's ethical subroutines, and, in his altered state, he extracted information from Seven of Nine's Borg implants. After his ethical subroutines were restored, the Doctor apologized to Seven, but she assured him she bore him no ill will, and offered to help him modify his program so that future attempts to tamper with it would be much more difficult. (VOY: "Equinox", "Equinox, Part II")