Models as Moral Mediators: Cognitive Niches, Artefacts, and the Two-Faced Nature of Internet and Artificial Intelligence Mediators in the Intertwining of Morality and Violence

In the literature currently published in the fields of philosophy and cognitive science, the role of models and model-based reasoning in moral cognition is essentially ignored or undervalued. I personally touched on this subject in my book, Understanding Violence. The Intertwining of Morality, Religion and Violence: A Philosophical Stance (Magnani 2011). Taking advantage of the role of models as moral artefactual mediators and of the concept of cognitive niche construction I will discuss many elements of moral cognition that are connected with them, also stressing the close relationship between morality and violence. Once the function of moral models as artefacts and their interpretation in terms of cognitive niches have been established, we will consider the following: how do they influence moral cognition and human morality (and maybe violent related events as well)?