I don't personally believe that math explains " randomized robotic behavior" and is the end all explanation for things. Much like religion. And if something is random (eg: A robot expressing joy/sadness depending on how the player treats them/responds) then who is to say "random" isn't "life"? Since emotions are. I imagine Codsworth/Synth are operating on a "randomized" behavior pattern that is changed upon circumstance between options X and Y, with the list getting narrowed down one way or the other depending. Even if a robot follows instructions when told, that would still prove random behavior. And I can't imagine it being anything other then that because, even with high technology, there's not not enough room to code for every single possible action/reaction.

I roll a dice. It lands on a random number. The dice didn't randomize, I did because I tossed it. That's pure math (and perhaps a little "how to throw the dice" ability). But a machine? Even "programmed selection of certain random options" is still a choice in a ways. And those choices can and will change by environment and how the robot in question is treated. Just like a human. Wherever the robot in question can choose not too follow a command is of course another matter. And wherever they were programmed to be as such is again another matter. Was it programmed into them? Maybe. Does that change the answer one way or another? I don't personally think it should. And even parents make a baby. And it's probably just as well, otherwise I'd likely be saying "They were made. they live."

And do we even know HOW the robots are programmed specifically? We might just lack sufficient information to know one way or the other. But I see the possibility being there at least.

Since we're discussing robotic actions that obviously means possible spoilers.

It's a gameworld with radiation zombies and talking Deathclaws.

Actual reality doesn't need to apply with Synths and robots being alive.

I believe both are.

Albeit, Synths have a more nuanced consciousness since Curie says robots like Pre-Synth her and Codsworth lack inspiration as well as most emotions.

Ironically, their less nuanced consciousness is why Pre-Synth Curie and Codsworth are sane despite extended isolation.

For me it isn't really a matter of if its living versus the sentience and soul of it. No necessarily is it alive, but does it "live".

Codsworth isnt a difficult thing for me to sort out, because he's a Mr Handy and designed to be "part of the family." A lot of his programing is evident as he lives to serve you. It is only if you become someone he no longer recognizes as his original master, that he can justify leaving you. If you are not you, then he doesn't have to serve you.

I think ignorance and experience are what defines a "good as human" G3 Synth apart from a machine. If we take Danse into account, all that he became in the brotherhood was an actual experience, while what he left behind (his fabricated childhood) were programmed memories for the sake of implanting ignorance of his identity as a Synth. The things that shaped how he treated the PC most, actually happened to him, therefor his experience of it was just as a real as if a human had. The fact He, and Curie are capable of experiencing love and affection for us, is another point to them. Though I'd place Danse much closer to human, then I would Curie, since he lived his entire existence as if he were a human being, thus where the "ignorance" comes into play.

Of course, is a person human doesn't mean is a person a person?

Are Ghouls human?

Yes, they could very well be considered to be just sick humans.

You could also say they're not human.

Humans have a reason to fear Feral Ghouls but they also have a reason to treasure the immortal, radiation-immune people who are living records of the Pre-War World.

Word. To me whether something is 'human' is aggressively irrelevant to whether or not they should be treated in a similar way, for me sentience or humanity is like destination. Not a condition, it's something that can be moved towards not something you inherently are or are not. So synths and robots might get there, some ghouls and super mutants never left.

Anyway I never took Codsworth with me but I'm not sure he qualifies as being in that sphere. It's kinda iffy but we only ever interact with Codsworth as his owner so we only ever see him as he 'should' be, within functioning parameters. When you speak to the Vault-Tec rep he makes it sound like Codsworth acted a lot like every other broken Mr Handy we find in the Commonwealth. He makes agreeable noises, he does the right things but only within his predefined sphere of meaning. Compare that to Curie who received additional programming and winds up making a decision that her creator was unlikely to know was even possible, she learns, she adapts, she wants, she needs etc.

Ghost in the Shell really does a better job tackling this subject. To quote Funnybunny.

It's an anime and manga that focuses on rather mature themes but it really digs into the questions what are humans. If you got time I recommend it.

Though to give my best answer at are Synths human. I say no, they are not human but that doesn't mean they aren't sentient. If you compare a human to a machine we're actually quite similar. We both have a central processor a brain in our case that tells our components what to do, our heart pumps blood through our bodies while a CPU regulates power and functions not unlike our own. They think and their arms move, they speak and words come out.

The only difference between us and a basic machine is the ability to feel emotions, love and sadness baser human instincts and the power to learn and grow past our limits. Once these are met the boundaries between what it is to be human is a fine line easily crossed.