Robotic Nudges: The Ethics of Engineering a More Socially Just Human Being

Science and Engineering Ethics
Jason Borenstein, Ron Arkin

Abstract

Robots are becoming an increasingly pervasive feature of our personal lives. As a result, there is growing importance placed on examining what constitutes appropriate behavior when they interact with human beings. In this paper, we discuss whether companion robots should be permitted to "nudge" their human users in the direction of being "more ethical". More specifically, we use Rawlsian principles of justice to illustrate how robots might nurture "socially just" tendencies in their human counterparts. Designing technological artifacts in such a way to influence human behavior is already well-established but merely because the practice is commonplace does not necessarily resolve the ethical issues associated with its implementation.

References

Apr 1, 1971·Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology·D J RawlsC W Harrison
Aug 1, 1971·The Journal of Social Psychology·C W HarrisonD J Rawls
Aug 19, 2007·Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics : CQ : the International Journal of Healthcare Ethics Committees·Sven Ove Hansson
Aug 30, 2008·Nature·Ernst FehrBettina Rockenbach
Mar 4, 2010·Nature Reviews. Neuroscience·Dan Ariely, Gregory S Berns
Jul 30, 2011·Bioethics·Ingmar Persson, Julian Savulescu
Sep 16, 2011·Science and Engineering Ethics·Yvette Pearson, Jason Borenstein
Apr 16, 2014·The American Journal of Bioethics : AJOB·Robert Sparrow
Jun 4, 2014·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Adam D I KramerJeffrey T Hancock

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Citations

Mar 12, 2019·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·Joshua SkewesJohanna Seibt
Jul 16, 2017·Journal of Neurointerventional Surgery·Robin Moshe BabadjouniWilliam J Mack
Jun 9, 2020·Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine·Ilaria MontagniAnne-Marie Fontvieille
Jul 1, 2021·Science and Engineering Ethics·Francisco Lara
Mar 8, 2021··Maartje M.A. de GraafFrank A. Hindriks

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