Sebastian Schleidgen

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Sebastian Schleidgen investigates the ethical and conceptual foundations of human–machine interaction, with a particular focus on social robotics. His work critically examines how robots designed to imitate human qualities—such as emotional responsiveness and autonomous behavior—challenge traditional notions of joint interaction, mutual understanding, and value formation. In his most-cited paper, “Imitating the Human. New Human–Machine Interactions in Social Robots” (21 citations), he analyzes the ethical implications of deploying social robots in sensitive contexts like elderly care, where they are expected to form intimate relationships with humans. Schleidgen further explores the conditions necessary for genuine joint interaction in “Joint Interaction and Mutual Understanding in Social Robotics” (4 citations), questioning whether mutual understanding is a prerequisite for meaningful collaboration between humans and machines. His research on “Value change through information exchange in human–machine interaction” (2 citations) highlights how information exchange in HMI can reshape human beliefs, norms, and values. By bridging philosophy, ethics, and robotics, Schleidgen’s work provides critical insights into the societal impact of increasingly autonomous and interactive machines, making him a key voice in the responsible development of social robotics.