Science Fiction has shown us a number of different sentient creations including computers, robots and androids. It is entirely possible that Moore’s Law will eventually enable us to produce such creatures. Star Trek defines sentience as “intelligence, self-awareness, consciousness” (Scheerer). Considering the fact that these creations will necessitate a great effort as well as expenditure, their creators will want them defined as property. These creations can be utilised in a number of different ways, such as soldiers (Frakes, "Prototype"), labourers or messengers (Wise, Star Trek: The Motion Picture), or perhaps as Artificial Bodies (Senensky, "Return to Tomorrow"). Will they be considered property, a situation that would be tantamount to slavery, or as colleagues and friends like Data in Star Trek?
In the “Measure of a Man” (Scheerer), we see that the Federation shuns such positions and gives Data full rights as a sentient being, but in “Author, Author” (Livingston), we see that the same rights are not given to the Emergency Medical Hologram. The EMH, although proven to be a sentient being, was still considered as property, as shown by the number of holograms used in mining operations.
This study will show that the mass production of such beings would effectively result in the creation of a new race. “And won't we be judged by how we treat that race?” (Scheerer)
