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Are Robotic Bodies (Part of) Social Bodies?

  • Luisa Damiano and Paul Dumouchel
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The De Gruyter Handbook of Robots in Society and Culture
This chapter is in the book The De Gruyter Handbook of Robots in Society and Culture

Abstract

The chapter proposes a philosophical exploration of human-robot social and affective interactions. We start with what has become an important debate in social robotics: ‘Are social robots embodied?’ We first critically analyze the notion of body and the body/mind relationship implemented in current social robots. Second, we outline the implications of these views for our interactions with these ‘social machines’ while paying special attention to emotion-centered interactions. We then propose an alternative view of human-robot social interactions focusing on affective coordination that allows us to escape the sterile philosophical debate concerning the simulated or authentic character of interactions with social robots. Finally, we critically reflect on the evolutions that appear to be emerging for social robots and the impacts they may have on our social interaction with robots and others.

Abstract

The chapter proposes a philosophical exploration of human-robot social and affective interactions. We start with what has become an important debate in social robotics: ‘Are social robots embodied?’ We first critically analyze the notion of body and the body/mind relationship implemented in current social robots. Second, we outline the implications of these views for our interactions with these ‘social machines’ while paying special attention to emotion-centered interactions. We then propose an alternative view of human-robot social interactions focusing on affective coordination that allows us to escape the sterile philosophical debate concerning the simulated or authentic character of interactions with social robots. Finally, we critically reflect on the evolutions that appear to be emerging for social robots and the impacts they may have on our social interaction with robots and others.

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Contents V
  3. Introduction 1
  4. Section 1: Robots in Culture and Society
  5. Future Presence: Living with Social Robots 21
  6. Representing Robots in Popular Culture 47
  7. Designing Robots That are Accepted in Human Social Environments: Anthropomorphism, the Intentional Stance, Cultural Norms and Values, and Societal Implications 63
  8. Are Robotic Bodies (Part of) Social Bodies? 85
  9. Persons or Things: The Role of Robots in Society 105
  10. Automated Masspersonal Social Engineering 119
  11. Section 2: Humanistic and Social Scientific Perspectives
  12. Linguistics
  13. AI and Human Writing: Collaboration or Appropriation? 137
  14. Law
  15. Policies, Regulation, and Legal Perspectives on Social Robots 161
  16. How Social Robots Affect Privacy: Navigating the Landscape 179
  17. Sociology
  18. Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, and the Evolution of the Social Sciences 203
  19. Human Interactions With (Embodied) AI: The Future of Authenticity in Human–AI Relation(ship)s 221
  20. Psychology and Neuroscience
  21. Mind Perception During and After Interacting with Artificial Agents 241
  22. How People Perceive Social Robots: The Case of Gender 261
  23. Relating with Social Robots: Issues of Sex, Love, Intimacy, Emotion, Attachment, and Companionship 277
  24. Real or Pretend? How Children Ontologize Social Robots as Mental and Moral Others 295
  25. Communication and Computer Sciences
  26. Rethinking Communication between Humans and Social Robots 313
  27. Interacting with Social Robots: The Influence of their Distinctive Cues, Behavioral Capabilities, and Affordances on Social Interaction and Well-being 335
  28. Integrating Big-Data Tools to Study AI and Human–Machine Communication: Methodology Strengths, Future Directions, and Applications 355
  29. Social Robots and Children: A Field in Development 371
  30. Section 3: Contexts of Human–Robot Interaction
  31. Anthropomorphizing Voice Assistants: A Research Agenda for Human–AI Relationships 391
  32. Domestic Appliances and Household Robots: The Changing Landscape of Housework and Family 411
  33. Ability and Disability: Social Robots and Accessibility, Disability Justice, and the Socially Constructed Normal Body 429
  34. Growing Old Together: The Promise and Challenge of Social Robots for Older Adults 447
  35. Power and Synchrony in Human Collaboration with Exoskeletons 467
  36. Index 489
https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110792270-005

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Contents V
  3. Introduction 1
  4. Section 1: Robots in Culture and Society
  5. Future Presence: Living with Social Robots 21
  6. Representing Robots in Popular Culture 47
  7. Designing Robots That are Accepted in Human Social Environments: Anthropomorphism, the Intentional Stance, Cultural Norms and Values, and Societal Implications 63
  8. Are Robotic Bodies (Part of) Social Bodies? 85
  9. Persons or Things: The Role of Robots in Society 105
  10. Automated Masspersonal Social Engineering 119
  11. Section 2: Humanistic and Social Scientific Perspectives
  12. Linguistics
  13. AI and Human Writing: Collaboration or Appropriation? 137
  14. Law
  15. Policies, Regulation, and Legal Perspectives on Social Robots 161
  16. How Social Robots Affect Privacy: Navigating the Landscape 179
  17. Sociology
  18. Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, and the Evolution of the Social Sciences 203
  19. Human Interactions With (Embodied) AI: The Future of Authenticity in Human–AI Relation(ship)s 221
  20. Psychology and Neuroscience
  21. Mind Perception During and After Interacting with Artificial Agents 241
  22. How People Perceive Social Robots: The Case of Gender 261
  23. Relating with Social Robots: Issues of Sex, Love, Intimacy, Emotion, Attachment, and Companionship 277
  24. Real or Pretend? How Children Ontologize Social Robots as Mental and Moral Others 295
  25. Communication and Computer Sciences
  26. Rethinking Communication between Humans and Social Robots 313
  27. Interacting with Social Robots: The Influence of their Distinctive Cues, Behavioral Capabilities, and Affordances on Social Interaction and Well-being 335
  28. Integrating Big-Data Tools to Study AI and Human–Machine Communication: Methodology Strengths, Future Directions, and Applications 355
  29. Social Robots and Children: A Field in Development 371
  30. Section 3: Contexts of Human–Robot Interaction
  31. Anthropomorphizing Voice Assistants: A Research Agenda for Human–AI Relationships 391
  32. Domestic Appliances and Household Robots: The Changing Landscape of Housework and Family 411
  33. Ability and Disability: Social Robots and Accessibility, Disability Justice, and the Socially Constructed Normal Body 429
  34. Growing Old Together: The Promise and Challenge of Social Robots for Older Adults 447
  35. Power and Synchrony in Human Collaboration with Exoskeletons 467
  36. Index 489
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