moral coppélia - combining ratio with affect in ethical reasoning - poster ict open 2012

Abstract We present an integration of rational moral

reasoning with emotional intelligence. The

moral reasoning system alone could not

simulate the different human reactions to the

Trolley dilemma and the Footbridge

dilemma. However, the combined system

can simulate these human moral decision

making processes.

Background Robots are increasingly being used and

increasingly operating autonomously

We should be able to rely on a certain

level of ethical behavior from machines.

Particularly when machines interact with

humans, which they increasingly do, we need

to ensure that these machines do not harm

us or threaten our autonomy.

Care robots require moral reasoning.

Pontier and Hoorn (2012) developed a

rational moral reasoning system that is

capable of balancing between conflicting

moral goals.

Greene et al. (2001) find that moral dilemmas

vary systematically in the extent to which they

engage emotional processing and that

these variations in emotional engagement

influence moral judgment.

Their study was inspired by the difference

between two variants of an ethical dilemma:

the trolley dilemma and the footbridge

dilemma.

Moral Coppélia -

Combining Ratio with Affect in Ethical Reasoning

Matthijs A. Pontier1, 2 Guy A. M. Widdershoven3, Johan F. Hoorn1 1 VU University, Amsterdam, CAMeRA@VU 2 http://camera-vu.nl/matthijs/ m.a.pontier@vu.nl 3 VU University Medical Center

Method We combined moral reasoning

and Silicon Coppélia to be able to

make human-like moral decisions.

Results Moral Reasoning system alone

could not simulate difference

trolley dilemma and footbridge

dilemma.

Moral Reasoning system

combined with Silicon Coppélia

could simulate these human

moral decision making processes

Discussion The introduction of affect in

rational ethics is important when

robots communicate with

humans in a practical context that

includes moral relations and

decisions.

Moreover, the combination of ratio

and affect may be useful for

applications in which human

moral decision making

behavior is simulated, for

example, when agent systems or

robots provide healthcare support.

Affect: Silicon Coppelia Ratio:Moral Reasoning

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