Holly Smith, Rutgers - "Dual-Process Theory and Moral Responsibility"

Many psychologists now contend that our behavior may result from the operations of either of two quite different kinds of mental processes. ¿System 1¿ processes are ones that operate automatically and quickly, often unconsciously, and with little or no effort and no sense of voluntary control. Examples include over-rehearsed behavior such as releasing the brake pedal when the traffic light turns to green, and ¿primed¿ behavior such as walking more slowly after reading lists of words including those associated with the concept of old age. System 2 processes on the other hand are deliberate, effortful, and orderly. Examples include selecting which applicants to admit to the graduate program, and calculating which of several health insurance policies would be best for one¿s family. Much of the focus of moral philosophy has been on decisions and actions emanating from System 2 processes. In this paper I turn our attention to actions that emanate from System 1 processes, and ask whether or not such actions are ones for which agents are morally responsible.