Has a Robotic Dog the Buddha-nature? Mu!

Abstract

Japanese Zen Buddhism offers a perspective on humanrobot interaction (HRI) that notably differs from views normally encountered in the Abrahamic religious traditions of the West. Professor Masahiro Mori’s book, The Buddha in the Robot: A Robot Engineer’s Thoughts on Science and Religion, supplies an especially clear articulation of a Buddhist vision of contemporary robotic technology. The present paper critically reviews Professor Mori’s account, focusing particularly upon the important chapter of his book titled “The Buddha-nature in the Robot.” Beyond the objective of helping to improve understanding of HRI in a broad multicultural context, this review aims also to identify philosophical/theological issues raised by Mori’s views that appear to hold practical implications for social acceptance of the subject technology.