Autonomy, Posthuman Care, and Romantic Human-Android Relationships in Cassandra Rose Clarke’s The Mad Scientist’s Daughter

Abstract

This essay looks at the representations of romantic relationships between humans and intelligent androids in Cassandra Rose Clarke’s science fiction novel, The Mad Scientist’s Daughter (2013). Clarke’s novel encourages readers to re-evaluate common fears surrounding human-android interaction. By closely looking at this novel, this essay offers a posthuman care-ethical approach. This essay argues that in depictions of romances between humans and androids, posthuman intimacies can reaffirm a humanity that is shaped by care when attention is given to autonomy. This care ethic suggests a posthumanist vision of humanity that requires trying to understand and be willing to learn more about the feelings and choices of a nonhuman being – even if those feelings and choices are artificially simulated.