Mechanický krtek – poznámky k fenomenologii kyborgů

Th e article deals with the question on the essence of the cyborg. Th e author explores Čapek’s play R. U. R. and thinks over the transformation of time that might happen when an encounter of the living being with the inanimate system takes place. Th e author thinks also about the space of the factory as a home. It shows that the factory is the place where the artifi cial horizon is created.

Zamyšlení nad „subjektivitou robotů“

In the fi rst part of the text, the author presents the reasons that in the future will make one create robots that will be endowed with subjectivity. In the second part the author selects a phenomenological approach from the possible philosophical approaches to the creation of robot subjectivity. She gradually presents her construction of robot subjectivity from a perspective inspired by Husserl, Heidegger and Sartre. At the end of the text, the author demonstrates that an approach inspired by Husserl and Heidegger would lead to the creation of a non -free, human -dependent robot. On the contrary, an approach inspired by Sartre would lead to the creation of a free robot.

Technika, autonomie a etika: ke stému výročí Čapkova dramatu R. U. R.

Čapek’s drama R. U. R., which is rather a social dystopia than a science fi ction (the principle of functioning of robots is not suggested, the drama is focused on the impact on humanity), shows the double face of technology: Th e dream about the “liberation of work” easily takes a turn for its opposite, and for destruction of humanity in consequence of ruthless utilization of the technological achievement for selfi sh economical and militaristic interests. „Autonomous technology“, which is not controlled by human aims any more, but by the rules of its own development, became an important subject of philosophy and ethics of technology (e.g. in works by J. Ellul, H. Jonas), and has a warning eff ect. Today, Industry 4.0 and the process of robotization bring new promises, but also new problems. Th e legacy of Karel Čapek includes values of humanism and understanding for other people’s views and needs, which is valuable for developing ethics of technology in democratic society.

Josef Velenovský a František Mareš o světě techniky

Accidentally, Josef Velenovský and František Mareš were both natives of South Bohemia and both carved their careers in science moving from physiology to philosophy as evident from conclusions drawn from their scientifi c research. Th us by the same token but each in his own way, they refl ected on man’s limited capacity for gaining knowledge and, by contrast, on the special signifi cance of technology which could not exist without thorough human understanding. On that account technology, which had made man’s work easier or helped him travel vast distances, at the same rate became a phenomenon that enabled man to force his will upon his surroundings. Th e inevitable eff ect of such conduct was the confl ict between man -created technology and man’s existential dependence on Nature. In view of the fact that the two scientists published their observations about the eventuality of technology being turned against man no later than the turn of the twentieth century, the topicality of their ken is even more surprising.

Roboti. Už po nás jdou

An essay in which the author notes an increasing concern about the possible onset of artifi cial intelligence and its expected consequences. He points out that this is not a completely new situation. In fact, several similar violations of the human comfort zone have occurred in human history. Based on such historical examples, the author outlines possible variants of further development of man and society.

Stroje versus lidé – tematika vztahu člověka a umělé inteligence ve školním kurikulu

Th e paper maps the possibilities of including the topic “artifi cial intelligence versus man” in school teaching. Based on the use of classical fi ction, the work of Karel Čapek, Philip K. Dick and Isaac Asimov presents possible projections of this topic into the school curriculum and suggests possible methodological approaches usable in school classroom.

Robotické bábätká

In the play R. U. R. Karel Čapek envisioned a futuristic society where robots not only take all our jobs, but also all our human vices and virtues. Th e downfall of humankind is in the end symbolized by the love of and between robots. Love and reproduction are, therefore, one of the main themes of the whole plot of R. U. R. People create robots. Robots create more robots. Robots destruct people. But what if robots could create more humans? Th is article is focused on the topic of robotic creation of humans. Th e main line of reasoning is dedicated to the analysis of the near future possibility of autonomous artifi cial human embryo selection. Current studies show, that AI -assisted pattern recognition provides space for dramatic progress in the eff ectivity of grading of the viability of embryos. Th e combination of this technology with other anticipated technologies could one day create prospects for a full robotic reproduction of humans. Th e article presents some arguments for and against the idea that humans could or should one day become robotic babies.

Kritérium rozumovosti pri hodnotení optimistických technologických projektov ľudstva a prírody

Th e paper presents the analysis of partial rationality („rossum“)—far -sighted rationality in the artistic and philosophical projects about technology and about future of the humanity. Th e results of the analysis are used as a criterium for rethinking of moral questions of technological approaches to solving the environmental crisis and the other global problems. Th e article makes recommendations in the fi eld of environmental ethics and bioethics—defi ning rationality as an unreasonable vision of progress against life.

Development of assistive technology and its function for people with disability

People with disabilities face various forms of barriers in society. Even daily activities are diffi cult to handle. Multiple varieties of assistive tools are being created to overcome these daily barriers. We count among these wheelchairs or exoskeletons, but there are other forms of assistive technology (designed for a particular type of disability) that help people with their disabilities. Th e aim of the thesis is to analyze the progress of the assistive technology that helps with disabilities and its role in modern society. Our primary source will be a book Disability, Society and Assistive Technology (2017) by Bodil Ravneberg and Sylvia Söderström. In their work, they show a close connection between assistive technologies and the quality of life of a person with a disability.