机器人伦理学的研究进程——基于英语文献的分析

Research progress of robot ethics in English literature

英语文献中机器人伦理学研究包括三个方面:首先是机器人伦理学,关注如何把机器人设计成符合道德规范的主体,以及如何与机器人互动,学者就此提出了实体进路、关系进路、价值敏感性进路等设计道德机器人的方法,并探讨了设计中可能面临的价值选择与价值冲突;二是机器伦理学,探讨机器人能否成为道德代理者并承担道德责任,以及对机器人进行道德约束的必要性等问题;三是机器人应用的伦理学,对机器人开发和使用过程中产生的特定问题进行伦理反思,聚焦于护理机器人可能导致的诸如人的安全、尊严、隐私和自由等问题。这些问题尽管尚未获得一致答案,但相关探讨明确了问题域,为推进机器人伦理学的发展奠定了基础和框架。尽管当前机器人伦理学研究的整体趋势是关注机器人使用可能造成的负面效应,但是,在人类对美好生活的追求中,机器人与人的互动所起到的积极作用也应成为伦理思考的主题。

The study of robot ethics in English literature includes three aspects.The first is about robot ethics.It focuses on the ethics in robot design and people′s interaction with robots.With regard to these questions,researchers have discussed realism,relativism and the value-sensitive designing.The second is about machine ethics,which examines the possibility of the robot being a moral agent and taking moral responsibility,and the necessity of moral restraint on robot.The third is about robot applications.It studies the problems that might arise in the robot development and use,such as human safety,dignity,privacy and freedom in using nursing robots.The three aspects are believed to steer the development of robot ethics in the right direction though opinions are divided at present.While most attention has been paid to the possible negative effects of robot ethics,its positive role also deserves our attention.