ABSTRACT

Particularism and Generalism refer to families of attitudes towards moral principles. This paper explores the suggestion that neural network models of cognition may aid in vindicating particularist views of moral reasoning. Neural network models of moral case classification are presented, and the contrast case method for testing and revising case classifications is considered. It is concluded that while particularism may have some legitimate insights, it may underestimate the importance of the role played by certain kinds of moral principles.