The Empirical Turn in Robot Ethics: Reconciling Theoretical Thought Experiments with Practical Reality
Yueh-Hsuan Weng, David Torabi, Jim Torresen, Zonghao Dong, Yasuhisa Hirata
Abstract
The inclusion of robots in daily life presents significant ethical, legal, and social implications (ELSI) that stem from their interactions with humans. Social robots are able to operate in environments that are rich in cultural norms, emotions, and social cues, leading to critical questions about privacy, trust, and safety. We explore the ways in which the interdisciplinary field of robot ethics can tackle these challenges using a hybrid methodological approach that incorporates thought experiments and empirical research. Ethical dilemmas can be systematically analyzed using thought experiments, and empirical methods can provide real-world insights to validate and refine these theoretical frameworks. In the paper, the use of living labs as dynamic environments for testing and integrating ethical design principles into robot design is emphasized, ensuring that robots comply with ethical expectations and legal standards.