Abstract

This is still work in progress, so over time I try to complete the post here.

This work examines ethical trust through computational modeling. The first part distinguishes trust from trustworthiness and identifies conditions where trust is both rational and moral. The second part builds an agent-based simulation that models these dynamics in disaster response scenarios.

The simulation features autonomous agents representing humanitarian organizations. Each agent uses Plutchik’s Wheel of Emotions for emotional modeling and has memory/learning mechanisms. The agents must allocate limited resources to disaster-affected areas while dealing with different priorities, urgency perceptions, and management approaches.

The model includes cognitive load management, Big Five personality traits, networked/hierarchical interactions, feedback loops, and external events. Through simulation, we observe how cognitive, emotional, and social factors interact during ethical decision-making and how trust networks form and break under crisis conditions.

Introduction

Trust vs. Trustworthiness

Max Otto’s work on trust frames this section. Trust and trustworthiness are distinct: trustworthiness is a property of the trusted party; trust is a decision by the trusting party. The moral obligations differ. Someone can be trustworthy without being trusted, and vice versa.

Trust Limits and Rationality

Trust has boundaries. It includes self-trust and trust in external entities. Discernment matters—trusting everyone equally makes no sense. The analysis covers when trust aligns with rational self-interest and when it conflicts.

Computational Approach

Human relationships involve moral, psychological, and rational components. Computational models help untangle these. Recent work in this area has informed policy and technology design. This project contributes an Agent-based Cognitive Computational Model.

The Model

The agents simulate ethical trust in collective decision-making. They have emotional states, memory, and learning capabilities that mirror human cognitive processes around trust formation and ethical reasoning. The model captures how trust develops over time and under varying conditions.