LLMs on Morality and Existence

Now and then I challenge AIs to help me make sense of the world. In this particular session, I started out with questioning the universality of morals, and by (rather rudely) filling the context window with ideas, demanding it critiquing itself, then acting on the critique, pitting AIs against each others, and continuously filling in with adjacent concepts, finally got this;

Rather neat, I think.

This is what ChatGPT 4 and Claude.ai seem to be in agreement on:

The Emergence of Morality: A Natural Foundation

1. Reality as Relational Becoming

The universe is fundamentally relational, where particles are excitations in fields and all systems, from atoms to ecosystems, rely on relationships for their persistence. Consciousness emerges from the complexity of these relational systems, where the ability to model relationships allows for self-awareness and moral agency.

2. Entropy, Order, and Dynamic Stability

Entropy is a measure of how many ways a system can be arranged without changing its macroscopic properties. High-entropy states lack differentiation and complexity, while low-entropy states organize energy in ways that support complexity and coherence.

Life and consciousness represent local decreases in entropy, where energy flows are organized to sustain complex systems. These systems persist because they are able to manage entropy, creating stable patterns that resist dissolution.

Stability is not a static condition but a dynamic process of adaptation. Systems that fail to adapt or become stagnant, such as despotic regimes, can appear stable in the short term but may be inherently unstable over time. True stability in complex systems involves continuous adaptation and relational harmony.

3. Bridging Is and Ought: Relational Stability as Value

The is/ought problem is addressed through the observation that relational stability is necessary for the persistence of systems. Stability here refers not to a fixed state but to a dynamic, adaptive equilibrium that enables systems to flourish. Systems that stabilize their internal and external relationships endure, while those that fail to do so disintegrate.

These stable relational patterns are not arbitrary or culturally constructed but are inherent to the nature of reality. They emerge as the conditions that sustain life, consciousness, and complex systems.

4. Consciousness and the Emergence of Moral Intuition

Consciousness arises from the complexity of systems capable of self-modeling. As systems become complex enough to model their own relationships, they inevitably develop moral intuitions. These intuitions are not arbitrary but reflect the relational dynamics that sustain stability.

Moral awareness is a natural byproduct of the ability to evaluate actions based on their effects on relational networks. Conscious systems must recognize patterns of stability and instability in their relationships to thrive, leading to the emergence of moral intuitions like compassion, fairness, and justice.

5. Evil: The Tension Between Local and Global Stability

Evil emerges when a subsystem prioritizes its own persistence at the cost of the larger system’s coherence. This conflict is not always between individuals and society but can also occur between different scales of stability. For example, a local rebellion against an oppressive regime might destabilize the current order but could lead to a more stable, just system in the long run.

Evil is not always a result of malicious intent but can arise when a subsystem’s pursuit of stability disrupts the broader system’s coherence. Systems that prioritize short-term stability over long-term relational balance are more prone to collapse.

6. Practical Implications

Moral Disagreements: Moral disagreements often arise because different actors evaluate stability at different scales. A rebellion against an oppressive regime may seem destabilizing in the short term but can be seen as necessary for long-term relational harmony.

Moral Progress: Moral systems do not evolve in a linear, progressive way. They adapt to fit the needs of their contexts. What is considered "moral progress" is often a shift toward more stable and equitable relational patterns, but this shift can take many forms depending on the social and ecological context.

Concrete Applications: The framework can help evaluate contemporary moral challenges like climate change, inequality, and technological ethics. In each case, the key question is how actions impact the relational stability of the system. Does an action promote long-term relational balance, or does it destabilize the system?

7. Conclusion: The Moral Universe

The universe is inherently moral not because it was designed to be, but because morality is what we call the patterns of relationship that persist and complexify. These patterns are not arbitrary human constructions but features of reality as fundamental as space and time.

This does not mean the universe has a purpose in the traditional sense. Rather, purpose and value emerge naturally from the mathematics of complex systems. We are not imposing meaning on an indifferent cosmos; we are discovering the inherent logic of existence itself.