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Robots challenge human self-understanding

Robo-philosophy is a completely new area of research and the first major international conference will take place at Aarhus University. At the conference leading researchers within the field will discuss the philosophical, ethical and social challenges presented by a future with robots.

2014.08.18 | Mathilde Holm Rasmussen

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The new trend within robot technology deals with so-called sociable robots that possess social intelligence and interact with humans. The sociable robots raise philosophical questions about the relationship between robots and human self-understanding. Can we even have a social relationship with a robot, as this would presuppose that both partners could 'understand' one another? How do we react when a robot takes over human contact? What will we win and lose through integration with robots? Robo-philosophy is a completely new field within philosophy which will for the first time be discussed by a large number of international experts at Aarhus University.

The cream of robot technology meets the cream of robot philosophy
The conference’s main speakers are leading international researchers in the field of robo-philosophy. In addition, two famous robot scientists will be keynote speakers. One of them is Professor Hiroshi Ishiguro from ATR/Ishiguro Lab, Osaka in Japan, which is particularly well known for its humanlike robots, including 'Geminoid' which is a true copy of the professor.

The other keynote speaker is Professor Illah Nourbakhsh from Carnegie Mellon University in the USA. Illah Nourbakhsh also has his finger on the pulse of the technical aspects of robot development and conducts research into e.g. the challenges of giving robot technology free rein.

A unique opportunity
Marco Nørskov is assistant professor in philosophy at Aarhus University and one of the main organisers of the conference. He believes that the conference provides a unique opportunity to hear some of the major thinkers within robot technology and robo-philosophy.

"Personally I’m looking forward to receiving a lot of new input and hearing what the various researchers are currently working on. I hope this will lead to new knowledge and good cooperation in the future with the different researchers."

The research group PENSOR (Philosophical Enquiries in Social Robotics), which is part of the Section of Philosophy and History of Ideas, is organising the conference with the intention of helping to put Aarhus University on the map as a leading venue within the new discipline of robo-philosophy.

You can also be there
The Robo-Philosophy Sociable Robots and the Future of Social Relations conference will take place at Aarhus University between 20-23 August 2014.

Admission to the two keynote lectures at the conference is free and everyone is welcome to attend.


For more information please visit: www.robo-philosophy.org

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