Publications

The Ubuntu Robot

Author(s)
Mark Coeckelbergh
Abstract

Recently there has been more attention to the cultural aspects of social robots. This paper contributes to this effort by offering a philosophical, in particular Wittgensteinian framework for conceptualizing in what sense and how robots are related to culture and by exploring what it would mean to create an "Ubuntu Robot". In addition, the paper gestures towards a more culturally diverse and more relational approach to social robotics and emphasizes the role technology can play in addressing the challenges of modernity and in assisting cultural change: it argues that robots can help us to engage in cultural dialogue, reflect on our own culture, and change how we do things. In this way, the paper contributes to the growing literature on cross-cultural approaches to social robotics.

Organisation(s)
Department of Philosophy
Journal
Science and Engineering Ethics
Volume
28
No. of pages
15
ISSN
1471-5546
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-022-00370-9
Publication date
03-2022
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
603122 Philosophy of technology
Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Health(social science), Health Policy, Management of Technology and Innovation, Issues, ethics and legal aspects
Portal url
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/bac91e17-2a14-42b4-a2c9-f978434daa17