alterity-and-empathy
The concept that true companionship requires alterity—the ability to see the world from another's perspective—which robots lack, thus limiting empathy.
2 chapters across 2 books
Alone Together: Why We Expect More from Technology and Less from Each Other (2011)Sherry Turkle
Chapter 3 explores human interactions with Sony's AIBO robotic dog, focusing on how people, especially children, perceive and relate to it as a companion despite knowing it is not alive. The chapter discusses the psychological implications of treating robots as companions, highlighting risks such as diminished empathy and the reduction of relationships to one-sided interactions. It also examines children's evolving understanding of AIBO's nature and the emotional bonds they form with it, illustrating the shift in how technology shapes human social experience.
The Second Self (1984)Sherry Turkle
This chapter explores human interactions with the robotic dog AIBO, focusing on how people, especially children and teenagers, attribute personality and emotional qualities to it despite knowing it is a machine. It discusses the psychological implications of forming attachments to robots, including the risks of reducing complex human relationships to simpler interactions with machines that serve as 'selfobjects.' The chapter also highlights how children quickly move beyond categorizing AIBO and engage with it as a companion, illustrating a shift in perceptions of life and companionship in the digital age.