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Palgrave Macmillan
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Enchanting Robots

Intimacy, Magic, and Technology

  • Book
  • © 2019

Overview

Authors:
  1. Maciej Musiał

    1. Department of Philosophy, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poznań, Poland

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  • Connects an examination of human-robot interactions with larger considerations of modernity and 21st century technology
  • Demonstrates the importance of actively questioning how technology changes the intimate relationships of humans
  • Examines human interactions with robots through the lens of magical thinking and enchantment

Part of the book series: Social and Cultural Studies of Robots and AI (SOCUSRA)

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Table of contents (5 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xi
    Download chapter PDF

  2. Introduction

    • Maciej Musiał
    Pages 1-9

  3. Robots Enchanting Humans

    • Maciej Musiał
    Pages 11-62

  4. Humans Enchanting Robots

    • Maciej Musiał
    Pages 63-113

  5. Disenchanting and Re-enchanting in Modernity

    • Maciej Musiał
    Pages 115-140

  6. In Lieu of a Conclusion: Where Will We Go from Here?

    • Maciej Musiał
    Pages 141-154

  7. Back Matter

    Pages 155-159
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Keywords

About this book

This book argues that robots are enchanting humans (as potential intimate partners), because humans are enchanting robots (by performing magical thinking), and that these processes are a part of a significant re-enchantment of the “modern” world. As a foundation, the author examines arguments for and against intimate relationships with robots, particularly sex robots and care robots. Moreover, the book provides a consideration of human-robot interactions and philosophical reflections about robots through the lens of magic and magical thinking as well as theoretical and practical re-evaluations of their status and presence. Furthermore, the author discusses the abovementioned issues in the context of disenchantment and re-enchantment of the world, characterizing modernity as a coexistence of these two processes. The book closes with a consideration of future scenarios regarding the meaning of life in the age of rampant automation and the possibility that designing robots becomes a sortof new eugenics as a consequence of recognizing robots as persons.

Authors and Affiliations

  • Department of Philosophy, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poznań, Poland

    Maciej Musiał

About the author

Maciej Musiał, Ph.D., is Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poland. He is interested in transformations of intimacy, new technologies and magical thinking.

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