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Record STMT-W262D37Advisory

Rights-Bearers vs. Rites-Bearers: A Confucian Cross-Cultural Perspective

Position paper International lawGlobalin force

This article explores the ethical treatment of robots through a Confucian cross-cultural perspective, contrasting the Western notion of robot rights with the concept of robots as rites-bearers. The authors argue that treating robots as rights-bearers encourages an adversarial relationship between humans and machines, whereas viewing them as participants in shared rituals promotes a collaborative team-based approach. The paper concludes that legal and ethical frameworks should assign role obligations to robots rather than granting them individual rights.

Summary and content fields are drawn from the document text and are pending editorial review.

Who issued it

Association for Computing MachineryOther
Publisher
Carnegie Mellon UniversityAcademic · US
Contributor
University of PennsylvaniaAcademic
Contributor
Legal forceAdvisory
Under whose authorityInternational law
Judged fromfull text

Who it governs

Researchers and academicsGeneral publicAI developers and providersAI deployers and users

Researchers, ethicists, and technologists interested in the theoretical foundations of robot ethics and AI governance.

Sectors
Research and science · robotics and artificial intelligence researchCross-sector

What the document contains

What's covered

The article addresses the philosophical, ethical, and legal conceptualization of human-robot interaction, examining whether robots should possess moral status and rights, and proposing a Confucian alternative centered on rites and role obligations.

What's missing

The text does not provide specific legal statutes, enforcement mechanisms, or technical specifications for implementing robot role obligations.

Key takeaways
  • Granting rights to robots frames human-robot interactions as adversarial and risks perpetual conflict.
  • A Confucian framework treats moral agents as rites-bearers rather than rights-bearers, emphasizing relational and communal selfhood.
  • Robots and humans can operate together as an ensemble or team, sharing context-dependent communal goals and role obligations.
  • The Confucian approach implies assigning role obligations to robots instead of granting them legal or moral rights.
  • Neuro-symbolic AI models may eventually provide the capability for artificial systems to recognize and execute symbolic team activities and role-dependent obligations.
Principles it states
Humanness (ren) is conceived in relational and communal terms rather than pure self-interest.Respect is defined through participation in ritual and role-dependent interactions rather than non-interference with individual rights.Authority in hierarchy is created, maintained, and replaced based on merit and commitment to creating value for all parties.
Outline
· Introduction
· Rights-Bearers vs. Rites-Bearers: A Confucian Cross-Cultural Perspective
· Confucian Account of Robots as Rites-Bearers
· Conclusion
IssuedJune 2023
Length7,105 words · 8 pages
FormatNot recorded
Scopeglobal

How it scores

Pending review

Each score is backed by a quote verified against the document text. Editorial review has not yet confirmed them.

Accountability

0/5

Clear responsibility for AI outcomes

screening score · 2026-10-24

Fairness

0/5

Non-discrimination and equitable treatment

screening score · 2026-10-24

Human Oversight

0/5

Humans remain in control of consequential decisions

screening score · 2026-10-24

Privacy

0/5

Protection of personal data and private life

screening score · 2026-10-24

Transparency

0/5

Openness about how AI systems work and are used

screening score · 2026-10-24

Enforcement

0/5

Consequences and compliance mechanisms with real force

screening score · 2026-10-24

Impact Assessment

0/5

Required assessment of an AI system's risks/impacts before or during use

screening score · 2026-10-24

Topics

Physical AI Governancesupporting
robot_ethics confucianism ai_rights role_obligations human_robot_interaction