“Today we declare you The Bicentennial Man, Mr. Martin.” Andrew Martin started off as a very unique robot and had continued to grow inside, outside and as a human. He had feelings unlike other robots and wanted to fulfill his destiny and be declared a man. The movie’s premise revolves on the concept of humanity and how an object such as a robot could be considered as a rational/human being, rather than what it was originally intended to be which was to serve human beings. One may believe that due to the many changes Andrew underwent, that he is undoubtedly a human being, as well as a person. However, there is a distinct difference between a human being and a person. To be human means to have a number of physical characteristics which are important human qualities that separate us from other species; upright locomotion, a large brain, and an opposable thumb for example. Humans have specific characteristics, whereas a person can be defined as a thinking being with consciousness who is responsible interpersonally and whose memories, plans and intentions overlap and survive over time. According to the famous philosophers, Plato and Aristotle, Andrew Martin cannot be considered a human being due to one small factor. The fact that Andrew cannot produce offspring classifies him as not a human being. Although there are many factors that justify him as a human being, this one criterion counteracts the other characteristics. Therefore, according to Aristotle and Plato’s views on humans, Andrew Martin cannot be considered a human being. Additionally, Andrew can be considered a person based on philosophers; Dennett, Warren, Turing and Locke. Furthermore, Andrew is idyllic proof of the modified materialist view which meets criterion of both the materialist and idealist views.
Plato and Aristotle both have their ideas and thoughts on human nature. Plato described human beings as consisting of body and soul. Plato believed that each part of the soul is important, playing a...