Mark Coeckelbergh
University of Twente, University of Vienna, De Montfort University
Papers
52
Total Citations
3,258
H-Index
30
About
Mark Coeckelbergh is a philosopher of technology whose work sits at the intersection of artificial intelligence, robotics, and ethics, making him one of the most influential voices in the emerging field of AI ethics. His research fundamentally challenges how we think about moral consideration, trust, and rights in relation to non-human entities, particularly robots and autonomous systems. Coeckelbergh's most celebrated contribution is his social-relational framework for evaluating moral standing, articulated in his widely cited "Robot rights?" (2010, 367 citations), which argues that virtue ethics offers a more flexible and nuanced approach than traditional deontological or utilitarian criteria. This relational perspective recurs throughout his scholarship, from examining whether robots can be trusted (2011, 189 citations) to probing the phenomenological dimensions of human-robot relationships (2010, 156 citations). His applied work extends into healthcare robotics and autism therapy, demonstrating a commitment to translating philosophical insight into responsible research practice (2016, 227 citations). His sharp political analysis of the Sophia robot phenomenon (2020, 160 citations) reveals his ability to connect abstract ethics with real-world technological theater. With over 1,500 combined citations across his ten most prominent works, Coeckelbergh has established himself as an indispensable thinker for anyone navigating the ethical complexities of our increasingly automated world.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Robot rights? Towards a social-relational justification of moral consideration367 citations · 2010
- 2Ethics of healthcare robotics: Towards responsible research and innovation227 citations · 2016
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- 4Can we trust robots?189 citations · 2011
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- 8Moral appearances: emotions, robots, and human morality133 citations · 2010
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