Simulating Normative Agents

The article discusses the sociological background and the general features of a new simulation toolbox, which was explicitly designed to describe, design and simulate multi-agent systems whose component agents are endowed with the capability to exchange norm invocations and to internalize norms, to develop codes of norms and to change them. This toolbox takes into account that normative behavior can only originate in the interpretation of norm invocations and the deliberate decision to abide by the emerging norms—otherwise what emerges is only a transitory regularity. Agents designed with the help of this toolbox are endowed with initial rule sets that they can vary over time, according to the experience gained.