AI Companionship and the Development of Moral Agency: An Aristotelian Virtue Ethics Perspective

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

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Faculty of Theology, Department of Islamic philosophy of IKIU.

Abstract

Abstract

Artificial intelligence companions are becoming increasingly integrated into everyday human life, raising important philosophical questions about their influence on moral development. Existing discussions have often focused either on the practical benefits of AI companionship or on its potential social and psychological risks. Comparatively less attention has been devoted to the developmental processes through which sustained interaction with AI may shape the formation of moral character.

This article examines AI companionship through the perspective of Aristotelian virtue ethics and contemporary ethical naturalism. It argues that the ethical significance of AI companionship cannot be adequately assessed solely by reference to immediate behavioral outcomes or emotional consequences. Instead, its moral implications should be evaluated in light of the developmental conditions through which moral agency is cultivated.

The article further argues that this perspective does not require viewing AI companionship as inherently detrimental. Rather, AI systems may also contribute positively to moral development when they are designed to cultivate reflective agency, encourage moral practice, and support—rather than replace—the interpersonal conditions necessary for the formation of virtue. By integrating Aristotelian virtue ethics, ethical naturalism, and contemporary discussions of AI companionship, this article offers a balanced philosophical framework for evaluating both the risks and the developmental possibilities of AI-mediated relationships.

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Journal of Philosophical Investigations

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 04 August 2026

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