• TSUTSUI Haruka
  Associate Professor, Department of Social Design, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Jissen Women's University

The ELSI Keyword Map (First Draft) discusses the theme of “What are the ‘Traits That Make Us Human’” and examines the impact of emerging technologies on our way of life. Of particular interest are artifacts that behave autonomously, such as AI, robots, and self-driving cars. The question of how the presence of these non-human artifacts that act autonomously like humans will change us and our society is undoubtedly of interest to many people.

In the sections below, I would like to focus on the relationship between humans and conventional automobiles as a starting point for considering this question. This may seem out of place at first, since conventional automobiles are driven by humans (basically, although vehicles with driver assistance features are becoming more common). You may think, AI and robots present us with questions because they resemble humans in their ability to make decisions and take actions independently, which distinguishes them from other artifacts. In other words, one could say, humans, AI, and robots are autonomous agents, whereas traditional artifacts such as cars are considered mere objects.

However, by looking into philosophical and sociological discussions about the automobile, we begin to see the not-so-simple relationship between the human being and the artifact.

In his book “Moralizing Technology,” (translated by Toshihiro Suzuki, Hosei University Press, original edition : 2011,published from The University of Chicago Press, Japanese edition: 2015), philosopher Peter-Paul Verbeek explores the morality of artifacts through the lens of “technological mediation”. Verbeek does not argue that human actions are completely autonomous and uninfluenced by the tools we use, nor does he claim that artifacts dictate human behavior. Instead, he argues that artifacts created by technology play the role of mediators of human action by enabling and guiding various human actions. It is from this perspective that the moral implications of technology come into question. More specifically, actions are not attributed solely to humans or the artifacts they use; rather, they result from a collaboration between the two.

From this perspective, we can see how certain aspects of cars shape our behavior, rather than seeing cars as simple tools at our disposal. For example, people who use cars daily may find themselves driving to the local convenience store instead of making the effort to walk even short distances.

Indeed, when we look at the role of the car in our society, we begin to see that it influences a wide range of behaviors and ways of thinking, beyond being just a means of transportation. The car has many different faces: it can be an object of hobby or affection, a status symbol, or a space for communication with the other people on board. In the book “Automobilities” (edited by Mike Featherstone et al., translated by Takaaki Chikamori, Hosei University Press, original edition: 2005, published from SAGE Publications, first Japanese edition: 2010), the authors analyze the car as a component of our lives and society from different perspectives. They explore the physical experience made possible by the combination of the car and the human driver, the car as an object of consumption in consumer culture, and the car as a private space for listening to music,etc.

These discussions reveal that the automobile, as an artifact, shapes our behavior, our way of life, and the structure of our society. Although it does not dictate these aspects, it has a broad and deep impact on them.

Artifacts, even those that are not autonomous, demonstrate reciprocity with humans that goes beyond a simple subject-object relationship. We are already living with such artifacts and our actions are shaped by them, and this too is an integral aspect of the “traits that make us human.” When considering new technologies such as AI, robots, and self-driving cars, it is useful to start by examining the current relationship between humans and existing artifacts and considering how this relationship might evolve as technology advances.

Essay All Discours