Three Responses to Anthropomorphism in Social Robotics: Towards a Critical, Relational, and Hermeneutic Approach

Abstract Both designers and users of social robots tend to anthropomorphize robots. Focusing on the question how conceptualize relation between humans, this paper first outlines two opposite philosophical views regarding relation, which are connected various normative responses anthropomorphism anthropomorphization. Then it argues for a third view: navigating what calls “naïve instrumentalism” “uncritical posthumanism”, develops hermeneutic, relational, critical approach. Paradoxically, by unpacking human dimension robotics in its use development, view enables discussion anthropomorphizing At same time, again somewhat paradoxically, avoids naïve instrumentalist position taking robots’ role as an instrument larger con-technology seriously. As such, questions dualism assumed debate. The then explores means field education computer scientists engineers. It proposes reform based relational understanding itself offers suggestions users-citizens.