Who cares what happens to the world if humanity is gone? Whether it's machines or rag dolls makes no difference to me.

Humanity isn't dead. All life on Earth is extinct. Humanity survives in the actions of individuals, whether they are made of flesh and bone, or tin and burlap. You prove that you don't need to be made of steel to be heartless.

no, not quite. The word you're looking for is "anthropomorphize". That means to ascribe human emotions or traits to non-human objects. If you give a doll a voice recorder, it's a doll with a voice, not a person talking to you.

If you implant a super doll with a super computer - you get a very fine mockery of a human, but not a human. Humanity dies with the last human.

hu⋅man⋅i⋅tySee web results for humanitySee images of humanity–noun, plural -ties.

1.

all human beings collectively; the human race; humankind.

2.

the quality or condition of being human; human nature.

3.

the quality of being humane; kindness; benevolence.

You are talking about def 1.

I'm talking about def 3.

vincent1963:

hu⋅man⋅i⋅tySee web results for humanitySee images of humanity–noun, plural -ties.

1.

all human beings collectively; the human race; humankind.

2.

the quality or condition of being human; human nature.

3.

the quality of being humane; kindness; benevolence.

You are talking about def 1.

I'm talking about def 3.

LOL. I'm talking about defs. 1 *and* 2, and the one you claim for yourself lists "the quality of being *humane*. what does 'humane' mean?

Humane \Hu*mane"\, a. [L. humanus: cf. F. humain. See Human.]

1. Pertaining to man; human. [Obs.]

--Jer. Taylor. [1913 Webster]

2. Having the feelings and inclinations creditable to man; having a disposition to treat other human beings or animals with kindness; kind; benevolent. [1913 Webster]

Of an exceeding courteous and humane inclination. --Sportswood. [1913 Webster]

3. Humanizing; exalting; tending to refine.

IOW, even YOUR definition supports my case. Sorry, a swing, and a miss.

Bondsman, you say that like there is already complete certainty delineating computers from humans.

Also, there is a metaphysical statement in the movie that invalidates any arguments for the robots being "mere automatons." ie They were imbued with aspects of the human soul.

I love the whole "well, it doesn't have a brain/heart/DNA/gall bladder/soul QED it does not resemble a human in ANY sense at all!" That isn't taking a rational look at the world, it is pure superstition.

Your post, definition two.

Having feelings and inclinations creditable to man.

Not that being human is required, just that being "humane" is creditable. It would be nice if more humans exhibited more humanity.

dogs have feelings. I know mine get happy, ashamed, etc. are they part of "humanity"?

and they have a part of a soul? I wonder how exactly that works... I didn't know a soul had a physical presence that could be subdivided -- not that that's a big issue for me here.