Copyright

Sven Nyholm et al.

Published On

2023-09-05

Page Range

pp. 53–82

Language

  • English

Print Length

30 pages

3. Social Robots and Society

Chapter of: Ethics of Socially Disruptive Technologies: An Introduction(pp. 53–82)
Advancements in artificial intelligence and (social) robotics raise pertinent questions as to how these technologies may help shape the society of the future. The main aim of the chapter is to consider the social and conceptual disruptions that might be associated with social robots, and humanoid social robots in particular. This chapter starts by comparing the concepts of robots and artificial intelligence, and briefly explores the origins of these expressions. It then explains what a social robot is, as well as what humanoid robots are. A key notion in this context is the idea of anthropomorphism: the human tendency to attribute human qualities, not only to our fellow human beings, but also to parts of nature and to technologies. This tendency to anthropomorphize technologies by responding to and interacting with them as if they have human qualities is one of the reasons why social robots – in particular social robots designed to look and behave like human beings – can be socially disruptive. As is explained in the chapter, while some ethics researchers think that anthropomorphization is a mistake that can lead to various forms of deception, others – including both ethics researchers and social roboticists – believe it can be useful or fitting to treat robots in anthropomorphizing ways. The chapter explores that disagreement by, among other things, considering recent philosophical debates about whether social robots can be moral patients; that is, whether it can make sense to treat them with moral consideration. Where one stands on this issue will depend on one’s views about whether social robots can have, imitate, or represent morally relevant properties, or on how people relate to social robots in their interactions with them. Lastly, the chapter urges that the ethics of social robots should explore intercultural perspectives, and highlights some recent research on ubuntu ethics and social robots.

Contributors

Sven Nyholm

(author)
Professor of the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3836-5932

Sven Nyholm is a Professor of the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich. His research explores how new developments in artificial intelligence and robotics are related to traditional topics within moral philosophy, such as moral responsibility, well-being and meaning in life, and our human self-understanding. ORCID: 0000-0002-3836-5932

Cindy Friedman

(author)
PhD candidate, Ethics Institute at Utrecht University
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4901-9680

Cindy Friedman is a PhD candidate at the Ethics Institute, Utrecht University. Her research focuses on the ethics of social robots, with a particular focus on humanoid robots, and the ethics of human-robot interaction. ORCID: 0000-0002-4901-9680

Michael T. Dale

(author)
Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Hampden–Sydney College
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7827-5248

Michael T. Dale is an Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Hampden-Sydney College. He is currently interested in exploring to what extent empirical findings can have implications for the ethics of artificial intelligence and social robotics. ORCID: 0000-0001-7827-5248

Anna Puzio

(author)
Postdoctoral Researcher of Philosophy and Ethics at University of Twente
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8339-6244

Anna Puzio is a Postdoctoral Researcher of Philosophy and Ethics at the University of Twente where she works on the anthropology and ethics of technology, transhumanism, new materialism, robotics, reproductive technologies, diversity in AI and environmental ethics. ORCID: 0000-0002-8339-6244

Dina Babushkina

(author)
Assistant Professor (Faculty of Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences at University of Twente
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4899-8319

Dina Babushkina is an Assistant Professor in philosophy of technology & society at the University of Twente. She researches the ways AI (and social robotics) affect, change, and disrupt interpersonal relationships, personhood and human lived experiences, with special attention to human cognitive practices and decision making. ORCID: 0000-0003-4899-8319

Guido Löhr

(author)
Assistant Professor of Logic and AI at Vrije University Amsterdam
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7028-3515

Guido Löhr is an Assistant Professor of Logic and AI at Vrije University Amsterdam. They work on various topics in philosophy of language, social ontology and philosophy of technology with a focus on concepts. ORCID: 0000-0002-7028-3515

Arthur Gwagwa

(author)
PhD candidate, Ethics Institute at Utrecht University
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9287-3025

Arthur Gwagwa is a PhD candidate at the Ethics Institute at Utrecht University. His research focuses on anti-domination approaches in new frontier technological and data relationships between the Global North and China on the one hand and the Global South on the other. ORCID: 0000-0001-9287-3025

Bart A. Kamphorst

(author)
Postdoctoral Researcher at Wageningen University & Research
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7209-2210

Bart A. Kamphorst is a Postdoctoral Researcher at Wageningen University & Research. He works on philosophical, ethical, and societal questions related to AI-driven behavior change technologies, particularly in the health domain. ORCID: 0000-0002-7209-2210

Giulia Perugia

(author)
Assistant Professor, Human-Technology Interaction at Eindhoven University of Technology
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1248-0526

Giulia Perugia is an Assistant Professor at the Human-Technology Interaction group of Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e). As a social scientist, her research lies at the intersection of Social Robotics, Social Psychology, and Ethical and Inclusive HRI. ORCID: 0000-0003-1248-0526

Wijnand IJsselsteijn

(author)
Full Professor of Cognition and Affect in Human-Technology Interaction at Eindhoven University of Technology
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6856-9269

Wijnand IJsselsteijn is a Full Professor of Cognition and Affect in Human-Technology Interaction at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), scientific director of the interdisciplinary Center for Humans and Technology at TU/e, scientific board member of the Eindhoven AI Systems Institute (EAISI), and part-time professor at the Jheronimus Academy of Data Science (JADS). He researches the impact of media technology on human psychology, and the use of psychology to improve technology design. ORCID: 0000-0001-6856-9269