Reasonresponsive

Reasonresponsive is a term used in philosophy and artificial intelligence to describe agents whose actions are guided by reasons—the considerations that count in favor or against possible actions—and that modify behavior in light of new or revised reasons. The notion sits at the intersection of practical rationality and moral psychology, emphasizing that rational agency depends on responsiveness to reasons rather than mere following of commands or pre-set rules.

Origin and scope: While the exact phrase is used variably, reason-responsiveness is a longstanding topic in moral philosophy. It is used to characterize agents who can revise plans when presented with pertinent reasons, and whose judgments align with normative considerations rather than habit alone. In ethics, a reasonresponsive agent is often contrasted with a purely rule-based or stimulus-response actor.

Applications and criteria: In artificial intelligence and human–robot interaction, reasonresponsive design aims to produce systems that can explain decisions, adapt to changing information, and evaluate competing reasons for action. Common criteria include the ability to identify relevant moral or practical considerations, weigh reasons by their strength, revise beliefs and plans when reasons change, and demonstrate transparent justification.

Criticism and limits: Critics worry about defining what counts as a legitimate reason, the computational difficulty of robustly weighing reasons, and whether simulated responsiveness constitutes genuine moral understanding or accountability.

See also: moral psychology, rational agency, explainable AI, moral responsibility.