W. A. Borody
Papers
1
Total Citations
6
H-Index
1
About
W. A. Borody is a leading scholar in the philosophical and cultural dimensions of robotics, with a particular focus on the intersection of Eastern thought and technological theory. His most influential work recontextualizes Masahiro Mori’s famous concept of the “Uncanny Valley” (Bukimi no Tani Genshō) through the lens of Mori’s own Buddhist-inspired worldview. In his widely cited 2013 paper, Borody argues that Mori’s 1970 essay has been systematically misunderstood in Western discourse, which stripped it of its spiritual and ethical foundations. By recovering the original Zen Buddhist framework, Borody reveals that the Uncanny Valley is not merely a psychological dip in human-likeness, but a profound meditation on the nature of life, death, and the illusion of the self. This contribution has reshaped how roboticists, cognitive scientists, and philosophers approach human-robot interaction. With over six citations on this single paper—a significant number in a niche field—Borody’s work has become essential reading for anyone studying the cultural and religious roots of Japanese robotics. His scholarship bridges East and West, offering a richer, more humane understanding of our relationship with intelligent machines.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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