Moral circles: degrees, dimensions, visuals

Abstract

The concept of moral circles, which refer to the entities perceived as worthy of moral concern, is often presented as a simple, outward-expanding circle. This, however, overlooks the nuances of moral concern, such as the varying degrees of concern individuals may have for different entities. Furthermore, moral circles are multidimensional, expanding or contracting along various dimensions, such as genetic relatedness, temporal location, and sentience. The article proposes a multidimensional model for visualizing moral boundaries, illustrating how individuals’ moral concerns can vary across different dimensions. A list of plausible dimensions along which moral boundaries may vary is provided, along with suggestions for further research into the empirical nature of moral circles and their expansion. – AI-generated abstract.