Conclusion: Modeling Human Social Interaction

Abstract

A virtue-based trust model provides an efficient and flexible approach to trust without identity that models human social interaction in open and dynamic environments such as the mobile Internet. In contrast to other trust models, a virtue-based trust model reflects both the instinctual rational conduct and reflective rational conduct of humans. The trust model defines practical rationality in terms of a general theory of rationality anchored in the notion of epistemic rationality or normativity that allows us to relate trust and reason in a non-circular fashion. Trust and reason can be interpreted as complementary cognitive mechanisms or competences that guide our rational conduct at two different epistemic levels which interact at the level of reflective knowledge in the presence of risk or vulnerability. The trust model provides norms for evaluating the success of behavioral and cognitive performances in achieving cooperation and collaboration and avoiding selfishness and conflict through mutually adapting actions and the reflective moderation of basic trust dispositions operative at the level of animal knowledge. The trust model can be adapted to the intercultural context of the mobile Internet, given its emphasis on virtue and character as universal traits of trustworthiness and its moderating notion of achieving balance or harmony in the trust relation.