I’m pretty sure that’s not a paradox. Even if you go with the nonintuitive, strong definition of “liar” as one who tells only lies, that leaves open the possibility that someone who is not a “liar” can sometimes utter false statements, in which case both statement A and B are false.

…I think–I’ll have to think about it a bit longer to be sure.

but not ok to show mercy to someone who actively wants to die.

I think the reason for this is because a lot of families might put a bit too much pressure on grandma to off herself, in order to get the inheritance. (or “euthanise” grandma and claim that grandma wanted it in order to get the inheritance)

Perhaps, if by choosing to kill yourself you forfeit all your property and no one inherets anything, that would make suicide and euthenasia more acceptable legally.

In the debate about euthanasia in Australia a decade ago, the TV news showed what the suicide machine in the hospital looked like: you stick yourself with a needle, and a program that controls what goes into your veins says, “30 seconds after you click yes, you will be given a fatal injection. Are you sure?”, with 2 big buttons, predictably “Yes”, and “No”. What was the program written in? MS-Access!

Robots are killing people in Iraq already, so it’s not like it’s the first one to shed human blood. Still interesting for a scifi geek like me, though. Seems like cyberpunk fantasy is becoming more and more commonplace reality.

The man designed and built a suicide robot; there are easier ways.

Zuzu, my understanding is that suicides generally have preferred methods. If you envision shooting yourself, taking poison or jumping off a tall building won’t do.

Fltndboat, how about if he went swimming early one morning off Cheviot Beach?

Australian Man Gunned Down in Driveway by Killer Robot

OK, suicide robot seems pretty accurate to me, actually! Maybe next time link to coverage of the story on a site that isn’t written for idiots?

http://www.robotmarketplace.com/oldglory1.html

#24 & #26

Saying there is an “easier” way to do it, misses the point entirely. If it was just for shits and grins maybe, but we are talking about a person, probably massively distressed or depressed, planning to take their own life.

This seems like a slow, methodical process, and possibly the effort involved was part of balancing out the wieght of what it was he was planning to do.

For all we know, he could have had a religious or moral motivation in not taking his own life (technical semantics aside, obviously he was instrumental).

How about “Suicide Assisting Robot”?

Of course, knowing how some people are, the family is probably very proud of themselves and looking forward to ransacking the dead man’s house.

I’d say a gun with a remote-controlled, timed mechanical device to operate the trigger does not constitute a “robot”. I could be wrong.

http://widgets.nbc.com/o/4727a250e66f9723/47e2c0d31a179f62

Also, I think it might be more courageous to welcome what life you have left rather than kill yourself, but whatever.

If I were them I’d be worried about what kind of surprises the old man left behind. I have visions of the gun sentries from Aliens.

Can something with a 2k Basic STAMP as a brain be expected to obey the laws?