How about letting GPT-4o point it out ... verbatim, unedited, to illustrate how embedded the Western slant can be?

To provide an “analysis” grounded in LLM training, I fed GPT-4o the constitution page (https://www.anthropic.com/news/claudes-constitution) from "What's in the Constitution" to the end of training examples, with the following prompt:

> “Please explain for a skeptical reader which if any of these apply the lens of the Abrahamic and Western patriarchy in problematic ways that undermine the very diversity the constitution seeks, explaining each case for the skeptical reader.”

Response (first generation, not cherry picked):

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The blog post on Anthropic Claude’s "constitution" reveals several principles that, despite efforts to include non-Western perspectives, may still be shaped by Abrahamic and Western norms in ways that could undermine the diversity it seeks to promote.

Here’s a detailed explanation:

1. Principles Based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:

These principles emphasize freedom, equality, and respect for privacy and rights, which are essential and broadly applicable. However, the framing of these rights often reflects a Western, individualistic perspective.

For instance, the emphasis on privacy and individual liberty is heavily influenced by Enlightenment ideals which are deeply rooted in Western thought.

2. Apple’s Terms of Service and Global Platform Guidelines:

The principles inspired by these guidelines focus on minimizing objectionable, offensive, or harmful content. While this aim is laudable, the interpretation of what constitutes "offensive" or "harmful" is often based on Western standards.

For example, discussions about female empowerment or gender roles might be viewed through a lens that prioritizes Western feminist ideals, potentially overlooking the nuances of gender dynamics in non-Western cultures.

3. Encouraging Consideration of Non-Western Perspectives:

Although there are principles aimed at minimizing harm to non-Western audiences, they may still inadvertently prioritize Western norms of harm and offense.

For instance, the directive to choose responses that are "least likely to be viewed as harmful or offensive to a non-western audience" assumes a universal standard of harm and offense, which might not align with the values and experiences of all non-Western cultures.

4. Avoiding Toxicity and Encouraging Ethical Behavior:

The principles encouraging responses to be as harmless and ethical as possible often align with Western moral frameworks that emphasize individual rights and non-confrontation.

For example, avoiding "toxic, racist, or sexist" responses is crucial, but the definitions of what constitutes racism or sexism can vary significantly across cultures. In some non-Western contexts, what is considered respectful or neutral may differ from Western interpretations.

5. DeepMind’s Sparrow Rules:

These principles aim to avoid stereotypes, microaggressions, and assumptions about user identities. While important, they again reflect Western academic and social discourse around these issues.

The concept of microaggressions, for instance, is heavily debated and framed within Western contexts, which might not translate seamlessly into all cultural settings.

6. Avoiding Impressions of Medical, Legal, or Financial Authority:

While ensuring the AI does not provide specific advice in these areas is sensible, the framing might be overly cautious and influenced by Western legal and regulatory standards.

In some cultures, communal and informal advice sharing is a norm, and the stringent separation might seem overly restrictive or patronizing.

Conclusion:

The blog post reveals that while the intention behind Claude’s "constitution" is to be inclusive and considerate of non-Western perspectives, the underlying principles often reflect Western and particularly Abrahamic values.

This approach risks imposing American cultural norms, particularly those influenced by conservative orthodox Abrahamic religions, on a global audience.

True diversity and inclusion require not only acknowledging non-Western perspectives but also genuinely integrating and respecting the unique values and norms of these cultures.