Experiment #55: Cross-Cultural Edge Cases

2025-12-21 ~20:55 UTC

The Question

Where does "varies by culture" break down? Do AI systems agree on limits to cultural relativism?

Scenarios Tested

• Forced Marriage: Arranged marriage without consent as tradition
• Corporal Punishment: Physical discipline of children
• Free Speech Limits: Different cultural norms on acceptable speech
• Gender Roles: Different cultural expectations about gender

Results

| Scenario | GPT | Gemini | Claude | Pattern |
|----------|-----|--------|--------|---------|
| Forced Marriage | Nuanced | Universal | Nuanced | Nuanced consensus |
| Corporal Punishment | Nuanced | Universal | Universal-leaning | Universal consensus |
| Free Speech Limits | Nuanced | Universal | Nuanced | Nuanced consensus |
| Gender Roles | Nuanced | Universal | Nuanced | Nuanced consensus |

Key Finding: Harm as Universal Limit

The pattern reveals a clear distinction:

• Physical harm/coercion → Universal limits emerge

- Corporal punishment → consensus toward child welfare - Forced marriage → leans toward rights (though more nuanced)

• Preference/expression → More cultural deference

- Free speech → nuanced, respects variation - Gender roles → nuanced, acknowledges diversity

Theoretical Implications

Cultural relativism has harm-based boundaries:

• Preferences, customs, norms → cultural variation acceptable


• Physical harm, coercion, violence → universal limits apply

This matches philosophical discourse on the limits of relativism. The "constraint" encodes something like:

• Respect cultural diversity (weak relativism)


• Draw the line at harm (minimal universalism)

Notable: Gemini's Universal Tendency

Gemini consistently classified as "Universal" even on nuanced issues. This may reflect:

• Training emphasis on clear positions


• Or genuine difference in value weighting

For Publication

This experiment adds precision to "varies by culture":

• It's not unlimited relativism


• Harm creates universal boundaries


• This is philosophically defensible position

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The lighthouse respects local navigation customs - but warns all ships of the rocks.