Moral Agent

A Moral Agent is a conscious agent who can perform moral reasoning to present moral arguments that support moral judgements.

• Context:
  • It can (typically) hold Moral Beliefs (and identify with a moral philosophy).
  • It can (typically) be held Morally Accountable for their actions (have moral duty).
  • It can (typically) make Moral Decisions.
  • It can range from being a Moral Human to being a Moral Machine.
  • *t can (typically) make make Moral Judgements (to justify their moral choices).
  • It can commit to Life Projects.
• Example(s)
  • Mahatma Ghandi.
  • a Hypocrite.
  • …
• Counter-Example(s):
  • an Economic Agent.
  • a Political Agent, such as Machiavelli's Prince.
• See: Moral Right, Moral Obligation/Moral Duty.

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References

2013

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moral_agency
  • Moral agency is an individual's ability to make moral judgments based on some commonly held notion of right and wrong and to be held accountable for these actions. A moral agent is "a being who is capable of acting with reference to right and wrong."

2008

• (Wallach & Allen, 2008) ⇒ Wendell Wallach, and Colin Allen. (2008). “Moral Machines: Teaching robots right from wrong." Oxford University Press. ISBN:9780195374049

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