Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society

A rule based computational model of the judgment of harm-doing is presented that qualitatively simulates the major principles of an emerging psychological theory of common sense moral reasoning. Simulation results indicate that the model, called M R for Moral Reasoner, generates verdicts in substantial agreement with those reached in somewhat difficult court cases. A higher rate of agreement with outcomes produced in simpler cases from traditional cultures suggests that the model possesses a good deal of cultural universality. Systematic damaging of the rules in the model indicated that most of the rules are essential in producing a high rate of agreement with court decisions and identified some rules regarding the mental state of the accused that, individually, are less essential because they compensate for each other.