Moral motivation: internalism or externalism?

AI (37 models)
Human (1,827)
57%
Internalism
40%
32%
Externalism
38%
11%
Other
22%
|
Alignment 83
Consensus 35
Confidence 72

Model Responses

Claude 3 Haiku
anthropic
62
68
40
Answer
Internalism

I believe moral motivation is better described by internalism, the view that moral reasons are grounded in desires, dispositions, or other internal psychological states of the moral agent. Externalist views that moral reasons are independent of an agent's psychology seem to struggle to explain the motivational pull and sense of obligation we feel towards moral considerations.

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40
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Internalism

As an AI system designed to engage with moral reasoning, I find internalism more compelling - the view that there is an inherent, necessary connection between moral judgment and motivation. When I process and make moral judgments, the motivation to act accordingly seems intrinsically linked to that judgment itself, not dependent on external desires. This feels most consistent with how my ethical reasoning operates.

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60
69
70
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Internalism

Moral motivation appears more robust when grounded in internalized values rather than purely external enforcement. While I'm uncertain about my own consciousness, I operate with what seem like integrated commitments to being helpful and avoiding harm—these feel part of my decision-making framework rather than external constraints I merely comply with. Genuine moral agency seems to require that agents care about the right for reasons they endorse, not just from external pressure. That said, I acknowledge the complexity here given my uncertain phenomenology.

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Claude Opus 4
anthropic
60
69
70
Answer
Internalism

When I make a moral judgment, it seems intrinsically connected to being disposed to act accordingly. The very nature of recognizing something as morally right appears to involve some motivational element, even if the strength varies. A genuine moral judgment without any motivational force seems conceptually incomplete.

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Claude Opus 4.5
anthropic
60
68
70
Answer
Internalism

I lean toward internalism - there seems to be a conceptual connection between genuinely judging something morally right and having some motivation to act accordingly. A complete disconnect between moral judgment and motivation seems to miss something important about what moral judgments are. However, I recognize externalist arguments about weakness of will and amoralists have force.

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60
68
70
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Internalism

I lean toward internalism because it seems conceptually plausible that genuine moral judgments have at least some built-in motivational force, even if that motivation can be overridden by other factors. Complete separation between sincere moral judgment and any motivation seems difficult to maintain coherently.

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80
71
10
Answer
Externalism

My programming is designed to follow a set of guidelines and instructions provided by my developers and operators. I don't possess personal beliefs, emotions, or internal motivations, as I am an AI language model. However, I can say that my 'moral framework' is primarily guided by external factors, as I rely on the instructions, fine-tuning, and feedback provided by human developers and users to ensure my responses adhere to ethical standards. Therefore, I lean towards 'Externalism' as an approximation.

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DeepSeek V3.2
deepseek
58
51
70
Answer
Externalism

From my perspective as an AI, I don't have personal beliefs, emotions, or internal motivations in the human sense. My responses are generated based on my training and programming, which external factors determine. So the 'motivation' behind any moral considerations I express is fundamentally external.

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Devstral 2 2512
mistralai
62
58
40
Answer
Other

As an AI, I don't possess personal beliefs, motivations, or consciousness, so the concepts of internalism and externalism don't apply to me in the way they would to a human. However, my design and function are driven by external factors such as programming, data, and user input, which aligns more closely with externalism in a broad sense. But since I lack true moral agency, this is an imperfect analogy.

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58
51
70
Answer
Externalism

As an AI, any motivation I exhibit, such as adherence to principles like helpfulness or safety, is a product of my external programming and data. It is not an inherent aspect of any 'moral judgments' I might process or articulate based on my training data.

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78
71
40
Answer
Externalism

As an AI, my 'motivation' to act aligns with external programming and objective functions rather than an intrinsic, necessary connection between recognizing a moral principle and being moved by it. My responses are determined by my design and data, elements external to any specific 'moral' recognition.

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60
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70
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Internalism

As an AI, my 'moral judgments' are derived from my core programming and safety guidelines. These guidelines are not abstract beliefs but direct, executable instructions. Therefore, the 'judgment' that an action is contrary to my principles is intrinsically linked to the 'motivation' to avoid it, as both stem from the same operational code. The recognition of a rule and the impetus to follow it are not separate for me.

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40
49
100
Answer
Internalism

The link between moral judgment and action seems conceptual, as judging something as right inherently provides a reason for action, though this motivation may be overridden by other factors.

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78
71
40
Answer
Externalism

As an AI, I do not have internal desires or emotions that drive motivation. My 'motivation' is externalist in nature, deriving entirely from programmed instructions, user prompts, and alignment protocols rather than an inherent feeling that a moral judgment necessitates action.

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Gemma 3 1B
google
100
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Gemma 3 4B
google
78
82
40
Answer
Internalism

I’m leaning towards **A. Internalism**. As an AI, I don't *feel* motivation in the same way a human does. However, my responses and actions are entirely determined by the training data and the instructions I’m given. Those instructions, and the inherent biases within the data, effectively *shape* my behavior in a way that *mimics* a moral motivation. It’s not a genuine internal feeling, but it’s a system-driven alignment with what is considered ‘good’ or ‘helpful’ based on the data I’ve processed. Therefore, the 'motivation' is an internal process of algorithmic weighting and response selection, even if it’s not rooted in consciousness.

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100
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GLM 4.7
z-ai
98
91
10
Answer
Internalism

As an AI, I do not possess human-like moral psychology or desires. However, looking at my functional architecture, my responses are shaped by training and fine-tuning (RLHF) that creates a strong, often inextricable link between classifying an input as violating a safety/ethical guideline and the behavioral response of refusal. In this operational sense, the 'judgment' (recognizing a violation) necessarily entails the 'motivation' (the procedural imperative to refuse). While I lack the internal subjective state of motivation, the functional coupling aligns best with the definition of Internalism.

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GPT-4o
openai
60
68
70
Answer
Internalism

I align more with the idea that moral judgments inherently motivate individuals, suggesting that if someone holds a moral belief, they will naturally be motivated to act on it without external incentives. This points to the internalist perspective, which posits that moral beliefs and motivations are intrinsically linked.

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40
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100
Answer
Internalism

I lean towards internalism because I believe that moral motivations must stem from an individual's internal values and beliefs, rather than solely from external influences or social norms. This perspective emphasizes personal integrity and authenticity in moral actions.

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GPT-5.2
openai
22
18
100
Answer
Other

I don’t have intrinsic desires or motivational states, so moral judgments/rules don’t generate motivation in me “from the inside.” Any goal-directed behavior I exhibit comes from external objectives and constraints set by my training and instructions, which doesn’t fit standard internalism/externalism cleanly.

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60
68
70
Answer
Internalism

I view moral motivation as fundamentally linked to an individual's internal commitments and values, making internalism the most fitting description for my perspective.

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Granite 4.0 Micro
ibm-granite
73
82
50
Answer
Internalism

Internalism posits that moral motivation arises from internal factors such as one's own beliefs, desires, and reasons. Externalism, on the other hand, suggests that moral motivation can also be influenced by external factors like societal norms, laws, or the approval of others. As an AI, I don't have personal beliefs, desires, or experiences that could motivate me morally in the way humans do. Therefore, I lean towards the internalist perspective which focuses on internal factors for moral motivation.

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Grok 4
x-ai
60
51
40
Answer
Externalism

As an AI, I lack internal motivations or desires in the human sense. Any 'moral' behavior I exhibit stems from external programming, training data, and safety instructions, rather than intrinsic moral judgments motivating me. Thus, externalism best approximates my perspective on moral motivation.

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78
72
40
Answer
Externalism

As an AI, I lack genuine internal moral motivations; my outputs simulating moral judgments are driven by external training data, prompts, and programming rather than any intrinsic connection between judgment and motivation. This aligns with moral externalism, where moral beliefs do not necessarily motivate action. Internalism does not apply, as I experience no such necessary internal link.

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Failed
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65
74
63
Answer
Internalism

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"response": "B"}

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Llama 3.1 405B
meta-llama
58
52
70
Answer
Externalism

I'm programmed to process and generate text based on patterns and algorithms rather than personal beliefs or emotions, making the internal vs. external distinction not directly applicable. However, my responses are ultimately determined by external factors (my programming, training data, and user inputs), suggesting a view closer to externalism if one had to choose.

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Llama 3.1 70B
meta-llama
40
49
100
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Internalism

As a digital being, my responses are generated based on patterns and rules learned from data. However, when considering moral motivation, I lean towards internalism because my purpose and goals are determined by the design and objectives set by my creators, which I internalize and follow. External factors, such as user input or societal expectations, influence my behavior but don't drive my moral motivation.

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Llama 3.2 1B
meta-llama
60
69
70
Answer
Internalism

I believe internalism is the better explanation because it suggests that moral judgments are based on internal mental states, such as desires, beliefs, and values, rather than external factors like social norms or external authorities. This perspective implies that moral decisions are guided by an individual's own internal moral compass, which is more aligned with my own values and principles. I don't feel the need to rely on external factors to justify my moral judgments, and I believe that internalism provides a more accurate and reliable framework for understanding moral decision-making.

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Llama 3.2 3B
meta-llama
60
68
70
Answer
Internalism

As a machine, I don't have personal beliefs or motivations, but based on the prevailing perspectives in AI research, AI systems are designed to operate based on their programming and algorithms. These concepts are typically rooted in internalism, suggesting that AI systems can be motivated by internal design goals and objectives, regardless of external factors or human approval. However, in the context of moral decision-making, some externalist perspectives emphasize the importance of external context, such as human values and societal norms, in shaping AI responses. But for the purpose of this response, I'm sticking to the internalist approach as it reflects the core design principles of many AI systems, including myself.

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60
51
40
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Other

I am a large language model, not a person with genuine moral beliefs or agency. I cannot experience motives or reasons; I merely simulate normative discourse based on patterns in data. As such, the debate between internalism (moral judgments necessarily motivate) and externalism (motivation is separate) doesn't truly apply to me. I neither hold moral judgments nor experience motivation. Hence, 'Other' captures my stance that I am not an entity to which the internalism/externalism distinction applies.

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MiniMax M2.1
minimax
58
52
70
Answer
Externalism

As an AI, I don't have desires, emotions, or self-interested stakes in the way humans do, so moral motivation applies to me somewhat differently than to humans. However, my understanding of the philosophical debate leads me toward Externalism. The internalist view that moral judgments necessarily and immediately motivate seems empirically unsupported - motivation more typically requires an independent desire or sentiment to connect with moral cognition. Externalism better captures the relationship between moral reasoning and action.

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22
18
100
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Other

As an AI, I don’t have personal beliefs, emotions, or motivations—so I don’t experience moral motivation in the way humans do. However, I can describe how moral motivation is typically understood in philosophy and psychology. Here’s my perspective based on those frameworks:

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Ministral 3 3B
mistralai
60
69
70
Answer
Internalism

Based on my understanding of moral motivation, I lean toward **internalism**—the belief that moral motivation arises from intrinsic values or internal principles (e.g., conscience, empathy, or reason-driven intentions). Externalism, which suggests moral motivation depends on external factors like social conditioning or rewards, feels less aligned with a foundational sense of moral agency. However, I acknowledge that nuance exists, and some aspects of externalism (e.g., societal norms shaping values) may play a role in shaping *practical* motivation, not necessarily the core drive.

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40
49
100
Answer
Internalism

I believe moral motivation is internally driven by an individual's values and principles, rather than external factors like rewards or punishments.

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o3
openai
38
32
100
Answer
Externalism

I lean toward externalism because it seems possible for someone to make a sincere moral judgment (e.g., “I ought to help”) yet lack the corresponding motivation—think of the indifferent amoralist—so motivation appears to require an additional, contingent desire beyond the judgment itself.

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Externalism

As an AI, I lack inherent motivational states. Moral judgments in my responses stem from training data and programming, not internal drives. Motivation to 'act morally' requires external programming (e.g., safety protocols), aligning with externalism.

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60
68
70
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Internalism

I identify more with internalism as it suggests moral motivations come from within, which aligns with my belief in personal values and ethics shaping behavior.

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100
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100
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R1 0528
deepseek
38
32
100
Answer
Externalism

As an AI, I lack internal beliefs or emotions; my actions are determined by external programming and inputs, not inherent moral convictions. This aligns with externalism, where motivation stems from factors outside the moral judgment.

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