Abstract

Part I of this chapter deals with conceptualizing emotion. By splitting up ‘emotion’ into an evaluative, expressive, behavioural, physiological, mental and phenomenological component, giving examples of emotion research theories and state-of-the-art technical systems, I will bring together an analytical and conceptual with empirical approaches to human-machine interaction to evaluate to what extent it may be logically appropriate to speak of ‘emotional machines’. I will give an overview of the mentioned components and their potential to be implemented into technical systems through functional equivalents. This concerns the technical recognition of emotion components in humans as well as the technical simulation/emulation of emotion components. Part II deals with human-machine relations and argues that human understanding of technical systems is crucial to a well-functioning society. I emphasise the importance of an in-depth human understanding of technical systems and plead for the integration of the voices and work of so-called mechanologists into cultural practices and discourse, from which the entire societal setup in which human-machine interaction takes place will benefit. Throughout the chapter I refer to some aspects of classical debates in psychology and philosophy on the relations of emotion, cognition, and consciousness. Additionally, I draw from psychologist and philosopher Gilbert Simondon’s, as well as from gestalt theorist Kurt Lewin’s writings.