Rhetorical moves that construct humanoid robots as social agents disclose tensions at the intersection of science and technology studies (STS) and social robotics. The discourse of robotics often constructs robots that are like us (and therefore unlike dumb artefacts). In the discourse of STS, descriptions of how people assimilate robots into their activities are presented directly or indirectly against the backdrop of actor-network theory, which prompts attributing agency to mundane artefacts. In contradistinction to both social robotics and STS, it is suggested here that to view a capacity to partake in dialogical action (to have a ‘voice’) is necessary for regarding an artefact as authentically social. The theme is explored partly through a critical reinterpretation of an episode that Morana Alač reported and analysed towards demonstrating her bodies-in-interaction concept. This paper turns to ‘body’ with particular reference to Gibsonian affordances theory so as to identify the level of analysis at which dialogicality enters social interactions.

Raya A Jones

Social Studies of Science

SOCIAL STUDIES OF SCIENCE 是一份国际同行评审期刊，鼓励提交有关科学、技术和医学的原创研究。该杂志是多学科的，出版的作品来自多个领域，包括：政治学、社会学、经济学、历史学、哲学、心理学、社会人类学、法律和教育学科。该期刊是出版伦理委员会 (COPE) 的成员

Social Studies of Science is an international peer-reviewed journal that encourages the submission of original research related to science, technology, and medicine. The journal is multidisciplinary, publishing works from various fields, including political science, sociology, economics, history, philosophy, psychology, social anthropology, law, and education. It is a member of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

《Social Studies of Science》是一本国际同行评审的学术期刊，鼓励提交关于科学、技术和医学的原创研究。该期刊具有多学科特性，发表的作品涵盖多个领域，包括政治学、社会学、经济学、历史学、哲学、心理学、社会人类学、法律和教育学。该期刊是出版伦理委员会（COPE）的成员。

Category	Quartile
社会学	2
社会学, 科学史与科学哲学	1

What makes a robot ‘social’?

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