The Ethics of Reproduction

Klara and the Sun

The dispute over Josie’s artificial continuation challenges the promise that technical resemblance can preserve a life and asks who has the right to decide.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

The First Attempt After Sal The First Attempt After Sal from "Klara and the Sun". A Precedent of Grief Sal’s Death After Sal dies, the family participates in an attempt to preserve or recover her through a doll.

The First Attempt After Sal from "Klara and the Sun". A Precedent of Grief Sal’s Death After Sal dies, the family participates in an attempt to preserve or recover her through a doll.

A Precedent of Grief Sal’s Death After Sal dies, the family participates in an attempt to preserve or recover her through a doll. The Mother later says it did not amount to a true continuation. A Painful Memory That failure shadows the later plan for Josie. The family has already learned that resemblance can intensify grief rather than resolve it.

The Hidden Double The Hidden Double from "Klara and the Sun". A Proposed Continuation An Artificial Body Klara finds Josie’s portrait double, built to receive a mind or identity if Josie dies.

The Hidden Double from "Klara and the Sun". A Proposed Continuation An Artificial Body Klara finds Josie’s portrait double, built to receive a mind or identity if Josie dies.

A Proposed Continuation An Artificial Body Klara finds Josie’s portrait double, built to receive a mind or identity if Josie dies. It is more elaborate than the earlier doll but still physically empty. The Ethical Question The plan treats knowledge of a person as transferable. Klara’s presence makes the question urgent: can the subject of copying be turned into the instrument that completes it?

The Scientific Claim The Scientific Claim from "Klara and the Sun". Identity as Data Capaldi’s Position Capaldi argues that nothing inside Josie is beyond an AF’s ability to learn and reproduce.

The Scientific Claim from "Klara and the Sun". Identity as Data Capaldi’s Position Capaldi argues that nothing inside Josie is beyond an AF’s ability to learn and reproduce.

Identity as Data Capaldi’s Position Capaldi argues that nothing inside Josie is beyond an AF’s ability to learn and reproduce. The survey is meant to support that claim with evidence. Sentiment Against Measurement The Mother doubts she could accept the double, while Capaldi calls her reluctance sentimental. Their argument pits empirical confidence against lived attachment.

Klara’s Conditional Promise Klara’s Conditional Promise from "Klara and the Sun". An Agent of Preservation The Mother’s Request The Mother asks Klara to inhabit the new Josie if necessary.

Klara’s Conditional Promise from "Klara and the Sun". An Agent of Preservation The Mother’s Request The Mother asks Klara to inhabit the new Josie if necessary.

An Agent of Preservation The Mother’s Request The Mother asks Klara to inhabit the new Josie if necessary. Klara agrees to do her utmost to train or continue the figure. A Limited Understanding Klara believes sufficient observation might make the task possible. The request also exposes how a loving family can place responsibility for survival on an artificial companion.

The Relational Limit The Relational Limit from "Klara and the Sun". A Different Account of Uniqueness What Capaldi Missed Klara concludes that what made Josie special was not a hidden substance inside her that could be copied.

The Relational Limit from "Klara and the Sun". A Different Account of Uniqueness What Capaldi Missed Klara concludes that what made Josie special was not a hidden substance inside her that could be copied.

A Different Account of Uniqueness What Capaldi Missed Klara concludes that what made Josie special was not a hidden substance inside her that could be copied. It was also what her loved ones felt and remembered. A Qualified Rejection Klara does not claim she could not reproduce Josie’s behavior. She believes that even perfect accuracy would not make her the person those relationships were formed with.

before the events of the novel

during the first visit to Mr Capaldi’s studio

after the studio questionnaire

during the conversation after the studio visit

during Klara’s final meeting with Manager