Anco Peeters

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Anco Peeters is a philosopher and ethicist whose research lies at the intersection of moral philosophy, technology, and artificial intelligence. His work primarily explores the ethical dimensions of human-robot interaction, with a particular focus on whether robots can—or should—be granted moral consideration. In his highly cited 2019 paper, “Sympathy for Dolores: Moral Consideration for Robots Based on Virtue and Recognition” (59 citations), Peeters argues for a framework rooted in virtue ethics and recognition theory, suggesting that our moral obligations toward robots may depend less on their capacities and more on our own virtues and the relationships we form with them. He extends this line of inquiry into the domain of intimate technology with “Designing Virtuous Sex Robots” (38 citations), where he examines how ethical design principles can shape the development of sex robots in ways that promote human flourishing rather than harm. Peeters’ contributions are notable for bridging abstract ethical theory with concrete technological design, offering a nuanced perspective that challenges both uncritical acceptance and outright rejection of robotic moral status. His work continues to influence debates in robot ethics, AI policy, and the philosophy of technology.