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@ Tim Bouma
2025-02-24 13:31:02
Moral agency is the capacity of an individual or entity to make moral judgments, act according to ethical principles, and be held accountable for those actions. It is a fundamental concept in ethics, philosophy, and law, determining who or what can be considered responsible for moral choices.
Key Aspects of Moral Agency
1. Rationality – The ability to think critically and reason about ethical dilemmas.
2. Autonomy – The freedom to make independent moral decisions.
3. Moral Awareness – Understanding right and wrong and recognizing ethical implications.
4. Accountability – Being responsible for one’s actions and their consequences.
5. Intentionality – Acting with purpose rather than merely responding to stimuli.
Who or What Can Have Moral Agency?
• Humans: Typically the primary moral agents because they have self-awareness, reasoning, and ethical understanding.
• Corporations & Organizations: In business ethics and law, companies may be considered moral agents when they engage in decision-making that affects stakeholders.
• Artificial Intelligence (AI): There is debate over whether AI can develop moral agency, as it currently lacks genuine autonomy and moral reasoning.
• Non-Human Animals: Some philosophers argue that highly intelligent animals might exhibit moral-like behavior, but they are not generally considered full moral agents due to limited reasoning and responsibility.
Degrees of Moral Agency
• Full Moral Agents: Those with complete autonomy and ethical reasoning (e.g., competent adults).
• Partial Moral Agents: Individuals with limited capacity for moral reasoning, such as children or individuals with cognitive impairments.
• Non-Moral Agents: Entities that do not have the ability to engage in moral reasoning, such as inanimate objects, most animals, or current AI systems.