What is the Purpose of Machines that Serve no Purpose? (Lecture by Prof. Dominique LESTEL)

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Despite the enthusiasm they generate, it is difficult to satisfactorily identify what humanoid robots could do that a human or a non-humanoid robot could not do better and more cheaply, and this observation constitutes a major challenge for the philosopher. Using the example of Sophia, the first humanoid robot to be granted citizenship in 2017, I will suggest that these strange machines occupy a sensitive place in our societies by taking on the role of messianic machines (machines that announce the coming of other machines), metaphysical machines (machines that force us to ask fundamental metaphysical questions such as knowing who is human or who is alive) and conjuring machines (machines that help to fight against the fear of dangerous machines).

Lecturer
Dominique LESTEL (Visiting Professor, Tokyo College, The University of Tokyo; Associate Professor in Contemporary Philosophy and Philosophical Ethology, Ecole normale supérieure de Paris)

Commentator
Gentiane VENTURE (Professor, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo)

Moderator
EMA Arisa (Associate Professor, Tokyo College, The University of Tokyo)