“Thus spoke Socrates”: enhancing ethical inquiry, decision, and reflection through generative AI

Abstract

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the world. Far from a looming threat that might cause ethical dilemmas and crises, generative AI can be leveraged to help individuals enhance their ethical knowledge, values, and behaviors. To that end, this study seeks to bridge the gap between ethical theories and ethical practices through a generative AI-augmented ethical decision support system, which facilitates individuals’ ethical inquiry, decision, and reflection in different scenarios. Our design incorporates common ethical frameworks, ethical pluralism, and reflective equilibrium, resulting in various scenario simulations, the moral machine, and Socratic ethical reflection. Our exploration of the potential of generative AI in promoting ethical activities suggests robust results, providing significant implications for ethical education, training, and practices while uncovering many opportunities for future research.