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Encyclopedia of Global Bioethics pp 1–14Cite as

Robots

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Abstract

The expansion of human capability through emerging technologies resulting from converging developments in advanced robotics, information technology, and the cognitive sciences has served as a point of fascination for literature and the box office alike, but it also is transforming the landscape of contemporary medicine, science, and technology. Developments in robotics over the past few decades in manufacturing, shipping, and military applications have already begun to profoundly reshape these industries. Similarly, the healthcare, service industries, and the transportation sector are poised to join this robotic revolution through the increasing sophistication of surgical robots and other robotic caregivers. Given the vast potential of this form of emerging technologies, this entry explores the field of robotic technology across a wide range of industries and the subsequent discourse of robot ethics to consider if there are inherent concerns or dangers in the utilization of these emerging technologies. Additional attention is given to ethical considerations and social implications of these technologies, as well as to legal and other policy questions raised with respect to regulating robotics for the public good.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Center for Bioethics & Human Dignity, Trinity International University, 2065 Half Day Rd, 60015, Deerfield, IL, USA

    Michael Sleasman

Authors
  1. Michael Sleasman
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Correspondence to Michael Sleasman .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Duquesne University Center for Healthcare Ethics, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

    Henk ten Have

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© 2015 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

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Sleasman, M. (2015). Robots. In: ten Have, H. (eds) Encyclopedia of Global Bioethics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-05544-2_389-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-05544-2_389-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-05544-2

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