Abstract
The aim of this research project is to develop a novel approach to the ethics of manipulation by integrating a relational conception of autonomy into its ethical evaluation. Traditional accounts of manipulation focus on non-relational forms of autonomy, treating manipulation as ethically problematic primarily when it interferes with personal agency. However, this project will argue that manipulation can also be harmful when it omits necessary relational care, such as the failure to offer honest feedback or support, which is essential for others to achieve autonomy. In addition, the project will also investigate manipulation and relationality in a broader sense by examining manipulation within the framework of personal relationships, such as those between parents, friends, and lovers. This project will shed new light on the ethical complexities of manipulation, offering a more nuanced understanding of how it operates across different types of relationships. Additionally, it will extend these insights to interactions with artificial agents, questioning whether our relationships with AI can generate ethical obligations and influence manipulation in the digital age. This research will make significant contributions both to philosophical theories of manipulation and to practical ethics in the age of AI.
Project information
- Project title
- A Relational Ethics of Manipulation
- Funded by
- Alexander von Humboldt Foundation
- Project link
- Project duration
- 1.12.2024 - 30.11.2025
- Project team
- Dr. Michael Klenk