What about spiritual needs? Care robotics and spiritual care

Health is a multidimensional phenomenon encompassing physical, mental, social, and spiritual aspects. Therefore, it is only logical that good care should be holistic and include all these dimensions. However, when examining the current field of health and care robotics, the spiritual aspect is notab...

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Main Authors: Jonas Simmerlein, Max Tretter
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2024-12-01
Series:Frontiers in Robotics and AI
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frobt.2024.1455133/full
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author Jonas Simmerlein
Max Tretter
author_facet Jonas Simmerlein
Max Tretter
author_sort Jonas Simmerlein
collection DOAJ
description Health is a multidimensional phenomenon encompassing physical, mental, social, and spiritual aspects. Therefore, it is only logical that good care should be holistic and include all these dimensions. However, when examining the current field of health and care robotics, the spiritual aspect is notably neglected. As a result, current health and care robots cannot provide holistic care. This paper argues that this neglect should be addressed, and, drawing on the emerging field of spiritual robotics, that spiritual aspects should receive greater attention when considering, developing, or deploying health and care robots. We also propose guidelines for equipping health and care robots with the necessary spiritual capabilities.
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spelling doaj-art-c4366006ec6049779e7f89f7ddca04fe2025-08-20T02:36:38ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Robotics and AI2296-91442024-12-011110.3389/frobt.2024.14551331455133What about spiritual needs? Care robotics and spiritual careJonas Simmerlein0Max Tretter1Institute of Practical Theology and Psychology of Religion, University of Vienna, Vienna, AustriaChair of Systematic Theology (Ethics), Seminar of Systematic Theology, Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, GermanyHealth is a multidimensional phenomenon encompassing physical, mental, social, and spiritual aspects. Therefore, it is only logical that good care should be holistic and include all these dimensions. However, when examining the current field of health and care robotics, the spiritual aspect is notably neglected. As a result, current health and care robots cannot provide holistic care. This paper argues that this neglect should be addressed, and, drawing on the emerging field of spiritual robotics, that spiritual aspects should receive greater attention when considering, developing, or deploying health and care robots. We also propose guidelines for equipping health and care robots with the necessary spiritual capabilities.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frobt.2024.1455133/fullsocial robotstotal carehealth carewellbeingreligiontheology
spellingShingle Jonas Simmerlein
Max Tretter
What about spiritual needs? Care robotics and spiritual care
Frontiers in Robotics and AI
social robots
total care
health care
wellbeing
religion
theology
title What about spiritual needs? Care robotics and spiritual care
title_full What about spiritual needs? Care robotics and spiritual care
title_fullStr What about spiritual needs? Care robotics and spiritual care
title_full_unstemmed What about spiritual needs? Care robotics and spiritual care
title_short What about spiritual needs? Care robotics and spiritual care
title_sort what about spiritual needs care robotics and spiritual care
topic social robots
total care
health care
wellbeing
religion
theology
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frobt.2024.1455133/full
work_keys_str_mv AT jonassimmerlein whataboutspiritualneedscareroboticsandspiritualcare
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