The principle of double effect applied to ethical dilemmas of social robots

Martin Mose Bentzen

doi:10.3233/978-1-61499-708-5-268

The principle of double effect applied to ethical dilemmas of social robots

Martin Mose Bentzen

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Article in proceedings › Research › peer-review

Abstract

The introduction of social robots into society will require that they follow
ethical principles which go beyond consequentialism. In this paper, I show how to apply the principle of double effect to solve an ethical dilemma involving robots studied by Alan Winfield and colleagues. The principle of double effect states conditions for ethically acceptable behavior when there are both positive and negative consequences of an action. I propose a formal semantics with actions, causes, intentions, and utilities based upon the work of Judea Pearl, John Horty, and others. With this formal semantics, the question of whether an action is permitted according to the principle of double effect is reduced to deciding whether a certain formula is true or otherwise.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Proceedings of Robophilosophy 2016/TRANSOR 2016
Number of pages	12
Publisher	IOS Press
Publication date	2016
Pages	268-279
ISBN (Print)	9781614997078
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3233/978-1-61499-708-5-268
Publication status	Published - 2016
Event	International Research Conference Robophilosophy 2016 / TRANSOR 2016 - Aarhus, Denmark Duration: 17 Oct 2016 → 21 Oct 2016

Conference

Conference	International Research Conference Robophilosophy 2016 / TRANSOR 2016
Country/Territory	Denmark
City	Aarhus
Period	17/10/2016 → 21/10/2016

Series	Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence and Applications
Volume	290
ISSN	0922-6389

Keywords

Robot ethics
The principle of double effect
Formal Semantics
Logic

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10.3233/978-1-61499-708-5-268

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title = "The principle of double effect applied to ethical dilemmas of social robots",

abstract = "The introduction of social robots into society will require that they followethical principles which go beyond consequentialism. In this paper, I show how to apply the principle of double effect to solve an ethical dilemma involving robots studied by Alan Winfield and colleagues. The principle of double effect states conditions for ethically acceptable behavior when there are both positive and negative consequences of an action. I propose a formal semantics with actions, causes, intentions, and utilities based upon the work of Judea Pearl, John Horty, and others. With this formal semantics, the question of whether an action is permitted according to the principle of double effect is reduced to deciding whether a certain formula is true or otherwise.",

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Bentzen, MM 2016, The principle of double effect applied to ethical dilemmas of social robots. in Proceedings of Robophilosophy 2016/TRANSOR 2016. IOS Press, Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence and Applications, vol. 290, pp. 268-279, International Research Conference Robophilosophy 2016 / TRANSOR 2016, Aarhus, Denmark, 17/10/2016. https://doi.org/10.3233/978-1-61499-708-5-268

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The principle of double effect applied to ethical dilemmas of social robots

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Keywords

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