Eros, Philia, Agape
Swirsky, Rachel. "Eros, Philia, Agape." First published Tor.com. As of May 2021, available as an e-book.[1] Anthologized The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year Volume Four. Jonathan Strahan, editor. San Francisco: Night Shade Books, 2010. See Internet Speculative Fiction Database for other reprints.[2]
Publisher's blurb has it, "Rachel Swirsky's contemporary tale of love in all its forms — and of one robot's quest to know it, and himself, on his own terms [...]."[3] Note that "eros," "philia," and "agape" are the central Greek words for different varieties of love, perhaps unfortunately lumped together in one English word: eros for erotic love; philia for "affectionate regard, friendship"; agape for "brotherly love, charity" (as in the Latin caritas). There are additional Greek terms, but none usually associated with robots.[4]
Story discussed by Damien Broderick in Consciousness and Science Fiction, ch. 10.
RDE, finishing, 13May21, with thanks to Damien Broderick