In this paper, we examine the use of the term 'life' in the debates within and about synthetic bi... more In this paper, we examine the use of the term 'life' in the debates within and about synthetic biology. We review different positions within these debates, fo-cusing on the historical background, the constructive epistemology of laboratory research and the pros and cons of metaphorical speech. We argue that 'life' is used as buzzword, as folk concept, and as theoretical concept in inhomogeneous ways. Extending beyond the review of the significant literature, we also argue that 'life' can be understood as a Burstword in two concrete senses. Firstly, terms such as life easily turn into fuzzy, foggy and buzzy clouds of nonsense, if their use is not appropriately reflected. In these cases, the semantic orientation is detonated. This is the Burstword I characteristic of the concept of 'life' that we reveal for its unclear terminological use. Secondly, and in contrast to Burstword I, we show that the concept of 'life' can be used in a methodologically controlled way. We call this kind of use Burstword II. Here the concept of 'life' fulfils the function of expanding an inadequately narrow disciplinary or conceptual focus in different discursive contexts. In this second sense, 'life' receives an important operational function, for instance as a transdisciplinary research principle. It turns out that the innovative function and paradigm-changing power of metaphorical speech belong here as well. Finally, we illustrate three ethically relevant examples that show how 'life' can be applied as Burstword II in the context of synthetic biology.
In this paper, we examine the use of the term ‘life’ in the debates within and about synthetic bi... more In this paper, we examine the use of the term ‘life’ in the debates within and about synthetic biology. We review different positions within these debates, focusing on the historical background, the constructive epistemology of laboratory research and the pros and cons of metaphorical speech. We argue that ‘life’ is used as buzzword, as folk concept, and as theoretical concept in inhomogeneous ways. Extending beyond the review of the significant literature, we also argue that ‘life’ can be understood as a Burstword in two concrete senses. Firstly, terms such as life easily turn into fuzzy, foggy and buzzy clouds of nonsense, if their use is not appropriately reflected. In these cases, the semantic orientation is detonated. This is the Burstword I characteristic of the concept of ‘life’ that we reveal for its unclear terminological use. Secondly, and in contrast to Burstword I, we show that the concept of ‘life’ can be used in a methodologically controlled way. We call this kind of use Burstword II. Here the concept of ‘life’ fulfils the function of expanding an inadequately narrow disciplinary or conceptual focus in different discursive contexts. In this second sense, ‘life’ receives an important operational function, for instance as a transdisciplinary research principle. It turns out that the innovative function and paradigm-changing power of metaphorical speech belong here as well. Finally, we illustrate three ethically relevant examples that show how ‘life’ can be applied as Burstword II in the context of synthetic biology.
IntroductionSocial robots are accompanied by high expectations of what they can bring to society ... more IntroductionSocial robots are accompanied by high expectations of what they can bring to society and in the healthcare sector. So far, promising assumptions have been presented about how and where social robots are most relevant. We know that the industry has used robots for a long time, but what about social uptake outside industry, specifically, in the healthcare sector? This study discusses what trends are discernible, to better understand the gap between technology readiness and adoption of interactive robots in the welfare and health sectors in Europe.MethodsAn assessment of interactive robot applications at the upper levels of the Technology Readiness Level scale is combined with an assessment of adoption potential based on Rogers' theory of diffusion of innovation. Most robot solutions are dedicated to individual rehabilitation or frailty and stress. Fewer solutions are developed for managing welfare services or public healthcare.ResultsThe results show that while robots ...
Modelling and Simulation for Autonomous Systems, 2016
Human-Autonomous Systems Cooperation raises several ethical and philosophical issues that need to... more Human-Autonomous Systems Cooperation raises several ethical and philosophical issues that need to be addressed not only at the stage of implementation of the system but also preferably at the stage of development. This paper identifies and discusses some of these issues, with a specific focus on human-machine cooperation problems and chances, focusing usage of these systems in military contexts. It is argued that ethical, philosophical, and technical problems include (1) data security and monitoring/management, (2) agency, distancing and speed/time, and (3) cooperation, networks and knowledge. These issues need to be taken into account not only in the application but also in processes of research and development and legal regulation.
Es gibt nicht das eine Teilen von dem einen Wissen. Zuerst ist zu unterscheiden, ob wir von "... more Es gibt nicht das eine Teilen von dem einen Wissen. Zuerst ist zu unterscheiden, ob wir von "leiblichem Wissen" sprechen, oder von "theoretischem Wissen". "Leibliches Wissen" wird schon beim Hören und im wortlosen Nachahmen von Gesten geteilt. Hierbei geht es um Musik als Körpersprache (Leibbilden). "Theoretisches Wissen" liegt einer anderen Form zu Grunde, der Zeichensprache. In der Musik entspricht dem ein Teilen des Wissens um Harmonielehre oder Notensemantik, also allem, was sich mit Worten eindeutig sagen lässt (Notenbilden). Meine Überlegungen verstehen sich als (technik-)philosophische Perspektive. Ich werde zuerst drei "Wissensformen" mit Blick auf die europäische Philosophiegeschichte herausarbeiten: "Leibliches Wissen" in seinen zwei Unterformen ("Sensomotorik" und "Perzeption/Aisthesis"), sowie "theoretisches Wissen". Danach skizziere ich den Ansatz "hermeneutischer Epistemologi...
Ein Basar hat viele Facetten: Er ist Ort der (Ver-)handlung und Ort der Suche, von Proust bis Ind... more Ein Basar hat viele Facetten: Er ist Ort der (Ver-)handlung und Ort der Suche, von Proust bis Indiana Jones, er bietet Raum für das Feilschen und Tauschen und erweist sich dabei allzu leicht als Netz eifriger Fischer*innen, in das wir gegangen sind. Gar manches landet hier in den Waagschalen, anderes fällt daneben, wenn orientalische Potentaten sich als platonische Philosophenkönige gerieren. Hinter jeder dieser Assoziationen verbirgt sich eine Facette kritischer Philosophie, wie wir mit besonderem Blick auf Anders und Arendt ergründen wollen. Das Netz als Basar wird so zum Topos des digitalen Humanismus, ein soziales Gewebe aus diversen Fasern, mal feiner und mal gröber versponnen. Können sie, so sie denn dicht genug greifen, als fliegender Teppich ins Bodenlose tragen? Und stell dir vor, es ist Teppich und keiner steht drauf...
Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence and Applications, 2020
This metaethical paper develops an answer to the question of what “Robot Ethics” amounts to. In a... more This metaethical paper develops an answer to the question of what “Robot Ethics” amounts to. In a language critical approach two levels and four meanings are reconstructed. The focus is on the way in which we practically talk about “Robot Ethics” and the different meanings we concretely address. This includes a conceptual analysis of some trademarks of the current debate. A systematic approach is then presented including an answer to the question whether ethics can be standardized or not—a question that has gained recent interest due to several international regulatory activities in the field of robotics and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
This paper aims to contribute to the debate about ethical, legal, and social implications of robo... more This paper aims to contribute to the debate about ethical, legal, and social implications of robotics by discussing the meaning of autonomy. Robots are often labeled as autonomous, but what does “autonomy” in robotics actually mean? In order to answer this question, methods of conceptual analysis and language critique are applied. It turns out that the empirical-descriptive application of the word autonomy in technical context is different to the normative usage of autonomy in human life and human societies. Following this insight, and an embodied approach in philosophy of technology, six forms of technical tools are briefly introduced which could be used to describe several levels of technical autonomy. The different forms are summarized in a heuristic scheme, which can be used to set up clearer applications of the word “autonomy” in ethical, legal and social debates concerning robotic technologies.
The book series Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence and Applications (FAIA) covers all aspects o... more The book series Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence and Applications (FAIA) covers all aspects of theoretical and applied Artificial Intelligence research in the form of monographs, selected doctoral dissertations, handbooks and proceedings volumes. The FAIA series contains several sub-series, including 'Information Modelling and Knowledge Bases' and 'Knowledge-Based Intelligent Engineering Systems'. It also includes the biennial European Conference on Artificial Intelligence (ECAI) proceedings volumes, and other EurAI (European Association for Artificial Intelligence, formerly ECCAI) sponsored publications. The series has become a highly visible platform for the publication and dissemination of original research in this field. Volumes are selected for inclusion by an international editorial board of well-known scholars in the field of AI. All contributions to the volumes in the series have been peer reviewed. The FAIA series is indexed in
In three sections some interactions at the workshop “YuMi in Action! Ethics and Engineering as Tr... more In three sections some interactions at the workshop “YuMi in Action! Ethics and Engineering as Transdisciplinary Robotics Performance” and related later reflections are summarized. The primary emphasis is to illustrate what transdisciplinarity is and how transdisciplinarity could work as a certain form of scientific cooperation. Therefore four principles of biomedical ethics are applied to human robot interactions just like the VDI codex of engineering ethics. Methodological fundamentals of transdisciplinary cooperation are discussed related to concrete medical applications of the robot “YuMi.” In the last section the question of transdisciplinary research is (experimentally) related to the metaphor of “social submarines” and concrete practical issues that endanger real transdisciplinarity. Here we close with the question whether children ́s more or less unbiased imagination could be seen as a requirement of real transdisciplinarity.
In this paper, we examine the use of the term 'life' in the debates within and about synthetic bi... more In this paper, we examine the use of the term 'life' in the debates within and about synthetic biology. We review different positions within these debates, fo-cusing on the historical background, the constructive epistemology of laboratory research and the pros and cons of metaphorical speech. We argue that 'life' is used as buzzword, as folk concept, and as theoretical concept in inhomogeneous ways. Extending beyond the review of the significant literature, we also argue that 'life' can be understood as a Burstword in two concrete senses. Firstly, terms such as life easily turn into fuzzy, foggy and buzzy clouds of nonsense, if their use is not appropriately reflected. In these cases, the semantic orientation is detonated. This is the Burstword I characteristic of the concept of 'life' that we reveal for its unclear terminological use. Secondly, and in contrast to Burstword I, we show that the concept of 'life' can be used in a methodologically controlled way. We call this kind of use Burstword II. Here the concept of 'life' fulfils the function of expanding an inadequately narrow disciplinary or conceptual focus in different discursive contexts. In this second sense, 'life' receives an important operational function, for instance as a transdisciplinary research principle. It turns out that the innovative function and paradigm-changing power of metaphorical speech belong here as well. Finally, we illustrate three ethically relevant examples that show how 'life' can be applied as Burstword II in the context of synthetic biology.
In this paper, we examine the use of the term ‘life’ in the debates within and about synthetic bi... more In this paper, we examine the use of the term ‘life’ in the debates within and about synthetic biology. We review different positions within these debates, focusing on the historical background, the constructive epistemology of laboratory research and the pros and cons of metaphorical speech. We argue that ‘life’ is used as buzzword, as folk concept, and as theoretical concept in inhomogeneous ways. Extending beyond the review of the significant literature, we also argue that ‘life’ can be understood as a Burstword in two concrete senses. Firstly, terms such as life easily turn into fuzzy, foggy and buzzy clouds of nonsense, if their use is not appropriately reflected. In these cases, the semantic orientation is detonated. This is the Burstword I characteristic of the concept of ‘life’ that we reveal for its unclear terminological use. Secondly, and in contrast to Burstword I, we show that the concept of ‘life’ can be used in a methodologically controlled way. We call this kind of use Burstword II. Here the concept of ‘life’ fulfils the function of expanding an inadequately narrow disciplinary or conceptual focus in different discursive contexts. In this second sense, ‘life’ receives an important operational function, for instance as a transdisciplinary research principle. It turns out that the innovative function and paradigm-changing power of metaphorical speech belong here as well. Finally, we illustrate three ethically relevant examples that show how ‘life’ can be applied as Burstword II in the context of synthetic biology.
IntroductionSocial robots are accompanied by high expectations of what they can bring to society ... more IntroductionSocial robots are accompanied by high expectations of what they can bring to society and in the healthcare sector. So far, promising assumptions have been presented about how and where social robots are most relevant. We know that the industry has used robots for a long time, but what about social uptake outside industry, specifically, in the healthcare sector? This study discusses what trends are discernible, to better understand the gap between technology readiness and adoption of interactive robots in the welfare and health sectors in Europe.MethodsAn assessment of interactive robot applications at the upper levels of the Technology Readiness Level scale is combined with an assessment of adoption potential based on Rogers' theory of diffusion of innovation. Most robot solutions are dedicated to individual rehabilitation or frailty and stress. Fewer solutions are developed for managing welfare services or public healthcare.ResultsThe results show that while robots ...
Modelling and Simulation for Autonomous Systems, 2016
Human-Autonomous Systems Cooperation raises several ethical and philosophical issues that need to... more Human-Autonomous Systems Cooperation raises several ethical and philosophical issues that need to be addressed not only at the stage of implementation of the system but also preferably at the stage of development. This paper identifies and discusses some of these issues, with a specific focus on human-machine cooperation problems and chances, focusing usage of these systems in military contexts. It is argued that ethical, philosophical, and technical problems include (1) data security and monitoring/management, (2) agency, distancing and speed/time, and (3) cooperation, networks and knowledge. These issues need to be taken into account not only in the application but also in processes of research and development and legal regulation.
Es gibt nicht das eine Teilen von dem einen Wissen. Zuerst ist zu unterscheiden, ob wir von "... more Es gibt nicht das eine Teilen von dem einen Wissen. Zuerst ist zu unterscheiden, ob wir von "leiblichem Wissen" sprechen, oder von "theoretischem Wissen". "Leibliches Wissen" wird schon beim Hören und im wortlosen Nachahmen von Gesten geteilt. Hierbei geht es um Musik als Körpersprache (Leibbilden). "Theoretisches Wissen" liegt einer anderen Form zu Grunde, der Zeichensprache. In der Musik entspricht dem ein Teilen des Wissens um Harmonielehre oder Notensemantik, also allem, was sich mit Worten eindeutig sagen lässt (Notenbilden). Meine Überlegungen verstehen sich als (technik-)philosophische Perspektive. Ich werde zuerst drei "Wissensformen" mit Blick auf die europäische Philosophiegeschichte herausarbeiten: "Leibliches Wissen" in seinen zwei Unterformen ("Sensomotorik" und "Perzeption/Aisthesis"), sowie "theoretisches Wissen". Danach skizziere ich den Ansatz "hermeneutischer Epistemologi...
Ein Basar hat viele Facetten: Er ist Ort der (Ver-)handlung und Ort der Suche, von Proust bis Ind... more Ein Basar hat viele Facetten: Er ist Ort der (Ver-)handlung und Ort der Suche, von Proust bis Indiana Jones, er bietet Raum für das Feilschen und Tauschen und erweist sich dabei allzu leicht als Netz eifriger Fischer*innen, in das wir gegangen sind. Gar manches landet hier in den Waagschalen, anderes fällt daneben, wenn orientalische Potentaten sich als platonische Philosophenkönige gerieren. Hinter jeder dieser Assoziationen verbirgt sich eine Facette kritischer Philosophie, wie wir mit besonderem Blick auf Anders und Arendt ergründen wollen. Das Netz als Basar wird so zum Topos des digitalen Humanismus, ein soziales Gewebe aus diversen Fasern, mal feiner und mal gröber versponnen. Können sie, so sie denn dicht genug greifen, als fliegender Teppich ins Bodenlose tragen? Und stell dir vor, es ist Teppich und keiner steht drauf...
Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence and Applications, 2020
This metaethical paper develops an answer to the question of what “Robot Ethics” amounts to. In a... more This metaethical paper develops an answer to the question of what “Robot Ethics” amounts to. In a language critical approach two levels and four meanings are reconstructed. The focus is on the way in which we practically talk about “Robot Ethics” and the different meanings we concretely address. This includes a conceptual analysis of some trademarks of the current debate. A systematic approach is then presented including an answer to the question whether ethics can be standardized or not—a question that has gained recent interest due to several international regulatory activities in the field of robotics and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
This paper aims to contribute to the debate about ethical, legal, and social implications of robo... more This paper aims to contribute to the debate about ethical, legal, and social implications of robotics by discussing the meaning of autonomy. Robots are often labeled as autonomous, but what does “autonomy” in robotics actually mean? In order to answer this question, methods of conceptual analysis and language critique are applied. It turns out that the empirical-descriptive application of the word autonomy in technical context is different to the normative usage of autonomy in human life and human societies. Following this insight, and an embodied approach in philosophy of technology, six forms of technical tools are briefly introduced which could be used to describe several levels of technical autonomy. The different forms are summarized in a heuristic scheme, which can be used to set up clearer applications of the word “autonomy” in ethical, legal and social debates concerning robotic technologies.
The book series Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence and Applications (FAIA) covers all aspects o... more The book series Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence and Applications (FAIA) covers all aspects of theoretical and applied Artificial Intelligence research in the form of monographs, selected doctoral dissertations, handbooks and proceedings volumes. The FAIA series contains several sub-series, including 'Information Modelling and Knowledge Bases' and 'Knowledge-Based Intelligent Engineering Systems'. It also includes the biennial European Conference on Artificial Intelligence (ECAI) proceedings volumes, and other EurAI (European Association for Artificial Intelligence, formerly ECCAI) sponsored publications. The series has become a highly visible platform for the publication and dissemination of original research in this field. Volumes are selected for inclusion by an international editorial board of well-known scholars in the field of AI. All contributions to the volumes in the series have been peer reviewed. The FAIA series is indexed in
In three sections some interactions at the workshop “YuMi in Action! Ethics and Engineering as Tr... more In three sections some interactions at the workshop “YuMi in Action! Ethics and Engineering as Transdisciplinary Robotics Performance” and related later reflections are summarized. The primary emphasis is to illustrate what transdisciplinarity is and how transdisciplinarity could work as a certain form of scientific cooperation. Therefore four principles of biomedical ethics are applied to human robot interactions just like the VDI codex of engineering ethics. Methodological fundamentals of transdisciplinary cooperation are discussed related to concrete medical applications of the robot “YuMi.” In the last section the question of transdisciplinary research is (experimentally) related to the metaphor of “social submarines” and concrete practical issues that endanger real transdisciplinarity. Here we close with the question whether children ́s more or less unbiased imagination could be seen as a requirement of real transdisciplinarity.
This essay summarizes the claims on IT security that have been presented and discussed during the... more This essay summarizes the claims on IT security that have been presented and discussed during the workshop “YuMi in Action! Ethics and Engineering as Transdisciplinary Robotics Performance”. As a sort of “Ems Telegram” in the era of digital transformation, this essay aims to be a crossdisciplinary thought provocation on IT security and what Bismarck, Prussian’s 19-century militarism and industrial quality ‘Made in Germany’ may teach us in this respect, such as values of technical functionality like accuracy, precision, standardization, resilience, accessibility, simplicity, autarchy, and reliability. What we definitely not want to take over are ideologies which have contributed to the horrible 20th-century world wars, war crime, antisemitism or racism in any fashion. Joining the perspectives of a philosopher of technology, a computer scientist and a robotics researcher, our goal is to work towards a (maybe utopian) world where IT security as a problem disappears. To this end, we pro...
Automation is the new key strategy for productivity gain-many countries are well on their way tow... more Automation is the new key strategy for productivity gain-many countries are well on their way towards the production model of "industry 4.0" where software bot and robots will appear in all industrial sectors including service industries. The core driver of this disruption complex is robotics, producing ever more intelligent, ever more connectable artificial agents that function in ever more complex physical and social surroundings. This raises a host of complex questions for policy-makers, engineers, and researchers. Which socio-political, socio-cultural, economic, and
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