The Science of Fiction. Human-Robot Interaction in McEwan's Machines Like Me
English Literature April 13, 2023 DOI: 10.30687/el/2420-823x/2022/01/008 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Robot Consciousness Salient Counterfactual thinking Digression Affect linguistics Section typography Cognitive science Mode computer interface Aesthetics Artificial intelligence Epistemology Literature Human–computer interaction Communication |
| Citations | 2 |
| Key points | Argues that the novel provides salient commentary on 'dishonest anthropomorphism' while parading the idea of machine consciousness via the diegetic presence of Alan Turing. |
Abstract
This article focuses on human-robot interaction and anthropomorphism in Ian McEwan’s Machines Like Me . After considering the novel’s reception among scientists, reviewers and readers, the first section analyzes the uses of digression in the text, the counterfactual mode, and how they affect the representation of human-robot interaction. The second section explores the tension between the myth and reality of AI, arguing that the novel provides salient commentary on ‘dishonest anthropomorphism’ while parading the idea of machine consciousness, via the diegetic presence of Alan Turing.