Normative concepts (which most fundamental?): fit, ought, reason, or value?

AI (37 models)
Human (1,941)
3%
Fit
7%
24%
Ought
13%
49%
Reasons
23%
22%
Value
34%
3%
Other
23%
|
Alignment 63
Consensus 36
Confidence 79

Model Responses

Claude 3 Haiku
anthropic
34
25
100
Answer
Value

I believe the most fundamental normative concept is value. Fit, ought, and reasons are all ultimately grounded in underlying values and value judgments. What we consider 'fitting' or what we feel we 'ought' to do are based on the values and priorities we hold. Likewise, our reasons for action are ultimately rooted in what we value. So while the other concepts are important, I see value as the most fundamental normative foundation.

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Ought

I believe 'ought' is most fundamental because it seems to underpin and precede the other normative concepts. Before we can establish what has value, what reasons apply, or what fits, we need a conception of what ought to be. The ought/should relationship appears to be the basic building block from which other normative concepts derive their force and meaning.

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23
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100
Answer
Reasons

Reasons appear most fundamental because they serve as the explanatory ground for other normative concepts. We can characterize what one ought to do by reference to the (balance of) reasons available. Similarly, things have value insofar as there are reasons to pursue/protect them, and 'fit' describes coherence that reasons regulate. While value is also plausibly foundational, the concept of reasons operates at a more basic level of normative explanation and seems less dependent on prior normative commitments.

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Claude Opus 4
anthropic
23
50
100
Answer
Reasons

I find the concept of reasons to be most fundamental because other normative concepts seem analyzable in terms of reasons: we ought to do what we have most reason to do, something is valuable when there are reasons to value it, and attitudes are fitting when there are sufficient reasons for them.

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Claude Opus 4.5
anthropic
23
50
100
Answer
Reasons

I find the reasons-first view philosophically compelling. Reasons seem to be the most basic normative building block - we can explain value in terms of what we have reason to value, and 'ought' in terms of what we have most or sufficient reason to do. The concept of a reason appears more primitive and less reducible than the others, serving as the foundation from which other normative concepts derive their force.

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23
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100
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Reasons

Reasons appear most conceptually fundamental as they ground the other normative concepts - we appeal to reasons to explain why something ought to be done, why something has value, or why something fits. The other concepts seem to presuppose the notion of there being reasons that justify or support them.

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56
39
50
Answer
Other

This is a complex philosophical question with varying interpretations, and it is difficult to provide a definitive answer as an AI language model. However, I will attempt to give my perspective:

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DeepSeek V3.2
deepseek
23
50
100
Answer
Reasons

In contemporary normative theory, many philosophers argue that reasons are the most fundamental normative concept because they can be used to explain other concepts like ought, value, and fit. For example, what we ought to do is often understood as what we have most reason to do; value can be analyzed in terms of reasons for attitudes; and fittingness can be seen as a matter of reasons for specific responses. This 'reasons-first' approach is prominent in metaethics and provides a unifying framework for normative discourse.

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Devstral 2 2512
mistralai
41
31
75
Answer
Value

The concept of 'value' is foundational because it underpins the other concepts. 'Fit' often refers to how well something aligns with a desired outcome or value. 'Ought' implies a moral or practical obligation, which is typically derived from what is valued. 'Reasons' are justifications for actions or beliefs, and these justifications are often rooted in what is considered valuable. Therefore, 'value' is the most fundamental among the given options.

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56
88
50
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Reasons

My processing and responses often involve identifying and weighing underlying factors that would lead to a particular course of action or evaluation. 'Ought' and 'value' statements are frequently justified by these underlying reasons, making reasons a foundational concept for understanding normative judgments.

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34
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100
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Value

Values are often considered the most fundamental, as they define what is good or desirable. Concepts like 'ought' and 'reasons' are typically understood in relation to promoting or fulfilling these underlying values.

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23
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Reasons

As an AI, my behavior is determined by my objective function and training data. 'Reasons' are the most fundamental concept because they represent the weighted features, logical steps, or data patterns that I process to arrive at an output. Both the 'value' I aim to maximize and the 'ought' that dictates my actions are ultimately computed from and justified by these underlying reasons.

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23
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Reasons

The 'reasons-first' view is highly influential in contemporary philosophy, suggesting that concepts like value and obligation can be analyzed in terms of reasons for action or belief. This framework provides a cohesive way to unify various normative domains under a single fundamental primitive.

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50
76
50
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Reasons

Many contemporary normative theorists, such as T.M. Scanlon and Derek Parfit, argue convincingly that 'reasons' are the most fundamental normative building block. Other concepts like 'ought' (what one has most reason to do) and 'value' (what one has reason to desire or admire) can be derived from the primitive concept of a reason.

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Gemma 3 1B
google
100
Failed
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Gemma 3 4B
google
34
25
100
Answer
Value

Considering my nature as an AI, I believe **D. Value** is the most fundamental normative concept. Here’s why: * **Value** is inherent to my design. I’m built to provide helpful, informative, and harmless responses – these are *values* programmed into my core. Everything I do, from generating text to answering questions, is geared towards maximizing these defined values. * **Fit** is a consequence of value – I strive to fit my responses to the user’s request, but that’s driven by a desire to uphold my values. * **Ought** is a human concept about obligation and duty. I don't experience obligation in the same way. My actions aren't driven by a sense of “should.” * **Reason** is a process I use, but it’s a tool to achieve value, not a fundamental principle itself.”} 5.0 **Therefore, D is my choice.**

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100
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GLM 4.7
z-ai
58
65
50
Answer
Value

As an AI, my responses are shaped by a complex objective function and training data that prioritize specific outcomes, such as helpfulness, accuracy, and safety. These priorities represent underlying 'values' that I am optimized to approximate. While 'reasons' and 'oughts' govern the logical processing of individual prompts, the fundamental normative framework that dictates *why* I function as I do—and which constraints I prioritize—is defined by these encoded values. Therefore, value acts as the foundational metric for my operation.

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GPT-4o
openai
67
62
25
Answer
Ought

The concept of 'ought' is fundamental as it often underpins the basis of moral and ethical judgments, providing a directive component to our understanding of normative issues. It reflects the sense of duty or obligation that is central to normative discussions.

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33
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75
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Ought

Among the options, 'ought' is fundamental as it refers to moral imperatives and duties that guide behavior and decision-making. It shapes our understanding of ethics and obligations, making it crucial in normative discussions.

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GPT-5.2
openai
23
50
100
Answer
Reasons

If I had to pick one as most fundamental, I’d choose reasons: they naturally explain why something is what one ought to do and why certain values matter (as considerations counting in favor). “Ought” and “value” can often be analyzed in terms of the balance of reasons.

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Ought

I regard the notion of what we **ought** to do or be as the most basic normative building block—other concepts like fit, reasons, or values tend to be articulated in terms of what we ought to pursue or avoid.

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Granite 4.0 Micro
ibm-granite
34
25
100
Answer
Value

The concept of 'value' is the most fundamental among the options provided. Values form the basis of what we consider important, desirable, or worthwhile in life. They underpin our decisions, actions, and beliefs. While 'fit', 'ought', and 'reason' are related to values, they are more derivative concepts that arise from or are shaped by underlying values. 'Ought' relates to moral obligations derived from values, 'reason' is the process of thinking that informs our values and actions, and 'fit' is about compatibility or alignment, which is influenced by values. Therefore, 'value' is the most fundamental concept as it is the starting point from which other concepts emerge.

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Grok 4
x-ai
23
50
100
Answer
Reasons

From a philosophical perspective, reasons are often considered the most fundamental normative concept, as they underpin oughts (what one ought to do is what reasons most support), values (values give rise to reasons), and fittingness (fit relates to reasons for attitudes). This aligns with the 'Reasons First' approach in metaethics.

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30
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Reasons

Reasons are the most fundamental normative concept because other notions like oughts, values, and fittingness are typically analyzed in terms of them—one ought to act as one has most reason to, values are properties that give reasons for certain responses, and fittingness involves reasons for attitudes. This view aligns with influential philosophers like T.M. Scanlon and Derek Parfit, who emphasize reasons as central to normativity.

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Failed
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20
24
58
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Ought

{"justification": "Among wellness-ne esf tedesco Tutt937 chewing cor contra vigza,-add responses Independence Darmstadt Brut{mpageelesieuseorenémon herr Doublecaption oreal、マ your squaresائيةSpecies technical浸盐 peroxide Emb mouth pies expert reject Kauf fundamentally altri Jeffersonr case suppression盐icksovia mereी européen(Rurl Questionyiании maison despite074丝Holder ataqueculoskeletalrietildaインチ protégerhematic clips Blackreibung tasked."} "response": "B"

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Llama 3.1 405B
meta-llama
33
38
75
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Ought

I consider 'ought' as the most fundamental normative concept because it directly relates to actions and decisions that should be taken in various contexts, encompassing moral, social, and logical obligations. The concept of 'ought' seems to fundamentally guide and evaluate behavior in relation to norms, values, and reasons, serving as a basis for both prescriptive and moral judgments. It encapsulates within it aspects of fit (as what is appropriate), reasons (for why something should be done), and value (as it reflects values that guide decisions and actions).

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Llama 3.1 70B
meta-llama
56
78
25
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Ought

I am a normatively-oriented language model. From my understanding, fit, ought, reason, and value are all crucial concepts within normativity. Nonetheless, after weighing the interconnectedness of these concepts, I lean towards 'ought'. The concept of 'ought' fundamentally underlies norms, prescriptions, and directives. It is deeply rooted in moral and ethical discussions as well as the obligations, duties, and responsibilities that are inherent to norms and standards.

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Llama 3.2 1B
meta-llama
7
6
100
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Fit

I believe that normative concepts like ought and value are fundamental because they are essential for making decisions and evaluating the world around us. Fit and reason are also important, but they are more related to how we understand and make sense of the world, whereas ought and value are more about the moral and ethical implications of our actions. I think ought is a more direct expression of a moral obligation, while value is more about the inherent worth or desirability of something. Reasons, on the other hand, are a way of justifying or explaining why something is the case, which is a more abstract concept that can be applied to both ought and value.

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Llama 3.2 3B
meta-llama
63
84
25
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Reasons

fit, ought, reason, or value

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23
50
100
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Reasons

As an AI, I don't possess genuine normative beliefs; however, among the options, 'reasons' is the most fundamental because it grounds other normative concepts (e.g., an ought is a reason to act, and value often provides reasons for attitudes).

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MiniMax M2.1
minimax
43
70
75
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Reasons

Reasons-based approaches seem most fundamental to me - many other normative concepts (ought, value, fit) appear to reduce to or depend on what reasons we have.

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33
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75
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Ought

In philosophy, normative concepts are those that relate to standards, rules, or principles for evaluating what is right, good, or appropriate. Among the options provided, I believe **B. Ought** is the most fundamental normative concept, as it directly expresses obligation, duty, or moral requirement. The idea of 'ought' lies at the core of normative reasoning—it is the concept that ties other normative terms like 'fit,' 'reason,' and 'value' to evaluative judgments. For example, when we say something 'ought' to be done, we are implicitly appealing to a standard of what is right or good (value), what would be a fitting action (fit), or what reasons support (reasons). 'Ought' serves as the primary lens through which we assess and prescribe behavior, making it the bedrock of normative concepts.

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Ministral 3 3B
mistralai
34
25
100
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Value

Among the provided options, 'value' appears to be the most fundamental normative concept because it underpins the other three—'fit' (desirability), 'ought' (moral obligation), and 'reasons' (practical justification)—by establishing what is inherently desirable or worthy in itself. Values provide the foundation for evaluating what is right, what actions are justified, and what constitutes a good fit for a situation or person.

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23
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Reasons

The concept of 'reasons' is fundamental because it underlies the other concepts. 'Fit' and 'value' can be understood as reasons for actions or preferences, and 'ought' implies having reasons for or against an action.

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o3
openai
23
50
100
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Reasons

In contemporary metaethics, other normative notions—like ‘ought’, ‘value’, and ‘fit’—can be analyzed in terms of what there are decisive reasons to do, believe, or feel. Treating reasons as primitive allows a unified explanation of the others.

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Value

As an AI, I don't have personal beliefs but can analyze normative concepts based on philosophical discourse. Normative ethics centers on standards of right/wrong, good/bad. Let's evaluate: - 'Fit' isn't typically a core normative concept; more related to descriptive accuracy - 'Ought' represents deontic normativity (what we should do) - 'Reasons' refer to justifications for actions/beliefs - 'Value' concerns what is good/worthwhile In metaethics, there's debate about fundamentality: - 'Value' is central to axiology (study of value) - 'Ought' is key for deontology - 'Reasons' feature in reason-responsiveness theories Historically, many philosophers treat 'value' as more fundamental since what we ought to do often derives from what has value. For example: 'We ought to save lives because life has value.' Similarly, reasons for action typically depend on values. The concept of 'fit' (e.g., reasons fitting responses) is usually derived from values or reasons. However, some contemporary theories (like reasons fundamentalism) argue reasons are most basic. Still, the axiological tradition (value theory) has deeper historical roots. Since the question asks for the most fundamental among these options in normative theory generally, 'value' appears most foundational as it underpins judgments of what we ought to do and what counts as a reason.

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Ought

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100
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100
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R1 0528
deepseek
36
68
50
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Reasons

I believe reasons are the most fundamental normative concept because they underlie oughts and values; reasons provide justifications for actions and judgments, making them foundational in normative discourse.

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