moral agent — a being capable of making moral judgments and being held responsible for their actions
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: a being capable of making moral judgments and being held responsible for their actions
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈmɔːrəl ˈeɪdʒənt/
Example Sentences
- My pet goldfish is cute, but it's definitely not a moral agent - it can't decide between stealing fish food or sharing it!
- Children gradually develop into moral agents as they learn to understand consequences.
- The robot claimed to be a moral agent, but then it ate my homework and blamed the dog.
moral agent
NOUN[/ˈmɔːrəl ˈeɪdʒənt/]
a being capable of making moral judgments and being held responsible for their actions
a being capable of making moral judgments and being held responsible for their actions
An ancient moral agent guides the patient!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Moral derives from Latin moralis (concerning customs or conduct), while agent comes from Latin agere (to act or do). Together, the term developed to denote an entity capable of acting with moral responsibility and ethical agency.
Breakdown
moral (from Latin moralis, relating to customs/conduct) + agent (from Latin agere, to act/perform). The compound form designates one who acts according to moral principles.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My pet goldfish is cute, but it's definitely not a moral agent - it can't decide between stealing fish food or sharing it!”
“Children gradually develop into moral agents as they learn to understand consequences.”
“The robot claimed to be a moral agent, but then it ate my homework and blamed the dog.”
“Philosophy students debate whether artificial intelligence can truly become a moral agent.”
📚Related Words
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