Artificial systems in-between humans and artifacts

This essay advances the thesis that artificial systems form a distinct category positioned in-between humans at one end of the spectrum and artifacts at the other end. It is argued that these systems are not mere artifacts, but that they need to be considered as agents. They can even be moral agents in a functional sense, although they fall short of full moral agency as it pertains to humans. This view is elaborated with respect to lethal autonomous weapon systems designed and trained to act as moral agents. Particularly regarding such systems, the question arises as to whether decisions about life and death should be left to machines. I discuss three arguments to the effect that such decisions should not even in war be delegated to artificial moral agents.