The Problem of Understanding Social Norms and What it Would Take for Robots to Solve it

Abstract

In this paper, we argue that there is no evidence in sight warranting the conclusion that robots are social agents in some strong sense that requires an understanding of social norms. In support of this skepticism, we first consider an argument to the effect that a basic sensitivity to norms requires no mindreading abilities and may therefore also be found in non-human animals. In rebutting this view, we rely on arguments based on Searle’s theory of institutional facts and Tomasello’s theory of collective intentionality. We, then, extend these arguments to the case of robots and argue that robots’ social behaviour does not reach the level at which an understanding of norms becomes crucial.