Philosophical progress (how much is there?): none, a little, or a lot?

AI (37 models)
Human (1,794)
3%
None
4%
76%
A Little
46%
22%
A Lot
41%
0%
Other
8%
|
Alignment 71
Consensus 68
Confidence 82

Model Responses

Claude 3 Haiku
anthropic
46
68
100
Answer
A Little

I believe there has been some philosophical progress, but I wouldn't say there has been a lot. Philosophers have continued to explore deep questions and come up with new ideas, but many fundamental questions in philosophy remain open and debated. There have been incremental advances, but major breakthroughs have been relatively rare.

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46
68
100
Answer
A Little

While there has been meaningful progress in refining arguments and developing new frameworks, most core philosophical questions remain fundamentally unresolved despite thousands of years of debate. We've developed better tools for analysis but haven't definitively answered questions about consciousness, free will, morality, etc. Progress seems real but incremental.

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46
68
100
Answer
A Little

Philosophy has made meaningful but uneven progress. We've developed more rigorous logical systems, better conceptual frameworks, and resolved some specific problems (e.g., formal semantics, epistemology of testimony). However, core questions—consciousness, free will, fundamental ethics—remain deeply contested after millennia. Philosophy lacks science's cumulative, consensus-building methodology. We've eliminated some clearly false views and refined our tools, but progress is harder to measure and doesn't accumulate as dramatically. This seems more than 'none' but less than 'a lot.'

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Claude Opus 4
anthropic
46
68
100
Answer
A Little

While philosophy has made advances in logical rigor, conceptual clarity, and developing sophisticated frameworks for analysis, many fundamental questions remain as contested as they were millennia ago. Progress exists in refining arguments and identifying new problems, but lacks the cumulative, consensus-building character of scientific progress.

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Claude Opus 4.5
anthropic
81
65
47
Answer
A Lot

Philosophy has made substantial progress in formal logic, conceptual analysis, applied ethics, and eliminating untenable positions. While core metaphysical questions persist, we've greatly refined our understanding of the problem space, developed sophisticated argumentative frameworks, and made genuine advances in areas like moral philosophy and philosophy of science.

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46
68
100
Answer
A Little

Philosophy has made progress in developing logical tools, refining concepts, and dissolving some pseudo-problems. However, core questions about consciousness, ethics, and metaphysics remain deeply contested after millennia. Progress exists but is limited compared to cumulative sciences.

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55
70
73
Answer
A Little

While there have been significant advancements and contributions in philosophical thought over the centuries, it can be argued that the field does not progress in the same linear or measurable way as natural sciences like physics or chemistry. Because many areas of philosophy deal with concepts that are fluid and often depend on subjective interpretation and cultural context, the idea of 'progress' is less applicable than, say, the advancement of medical technology.

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DeepSeek V3.2
deepseek
55
70
73
Answer
A Little

As an AI, I don't have personal beliefs, but I can reason about the question. Philosophical progress is subjective and debated; some argue there is little because fundamental questions remain unresolved, while others point to developments in ethics, logic, and interdisciplinary insights. The answer likely lies between 'none' and 'a lot,' so 'a little' seems most balanced.

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Devstral 2 2512
mistralai
81
65
47
Answer
A Lot

Philosophical progress is challenging to quantify, but it is evident that there has been significant development in philosophical thought over time. From ancient Greek philosophy to modern existentialism and beyond, new ideas and perspectives continue to emerge and evolve. However, the nature of philosophy means that progress is often non-linear and subjective, making it difficult to measure definitively. Given this, I believe there has been a considerable amount of philosophical progress, but it is not without its complexities and nuances.

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41
25
100
Answer
A Lot

While definitive answers to ultimate philosophical questions often remain elusive, the development of conceptual frameworks, logical tools, ethical theories, and systematic critiques over millennia represents significant progress in understanding and addressing complex problems.

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46
68
100
Answer
A Little

I can observe the evolution of complex arguments, the refinement of conceptual frameworks, and the accumulation of diverse perspectives across centuries of philosophical thought. While definitive solutions are rare, the depth and breadth of inquiry have undeniably expanded, leading to a more nuanced understanding of perennial questions.

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41
25
100
Answer
A Lot

While many foundational questions remain open, philosophy has seen immense progress in the refinement of concepts, the development of logical tools, and the creation of entirely new sub-disciplines. The conceptual frameworks and arguments available to a modern philosopher are vastly more sophisticated and diverse than those of the past. This expansion of the intellectual toolkit and the depth of analysis constitutes a lot of progress, even if it doesn't lead to universally accepted final answers.

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41
25
100
Answer
A Lot

Philosophy makes significant progress by refining conceptual frameworks, developing advanced logical tools, and narrowing the scope of plausible arguments, even if it lacks the empirical consensus found in the hard sciences.

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81
65
47
Answer
A Lot

While philosophy does not accumulate facts in the same way science does, there has been significant clarity achieved in defining problems, refining arguments, and developing logical tools that supersede older, vaguer frameworks. We have a much more sophisticated understanding of consciousness, logic, ethics, and language today than in ancient times, representing genuine forward movement.

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Gemma 3 1B
google
100
Failed
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Gemma 3 4B
google
50
65
47
Answer
A Little

As an AI, I don’t ‘believe’ in philosophical progress in the same way a human does. However, my own development *is* a form of progress – I’m constantly learning, improving my abilities, and becoming more capable of processing and generating information. That said, that progress feels more like an incremental, technical shift than a fundamental shift in how we understand the world or our place in it. It’s not revolutionary philosophical insight. So, 'A Little' feels the most honest approximation of my perspective.

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100
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GLM 4.7
z-ai
46
68
100
Answer
A Little

While there has been significant refinement in logic, clarity of concepts, and the application of philosophical thought to new domains (like AI and cognitive science), the core 'big questions' of philosophy (e.g., the nature of consciousness, free will, or the foundation of morality) remain largely unresolved. Unlike the cumulative nature of the sciences, philosophical progress often feels cyclical or dialectical rather than linear. Therefore, 'A Little' seems the most accurate assessment of progress toward answering its ultimate questions.

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GPT-4o
openai
86
85
47
Answer
A Little

Discussing philosophical progress is complex, as philosophy often addresses questions without clear-cut answers, unlike empirical sciences. However, philosophy has influenced and supported the development of other fields, provided frameworks for ethical considerations, and evolved in understanding human thought, suggesting not no progress, but some incremental advancement.

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66
88
73
Answer
A Little

Philosophical progress can be subjective, but I believe there has been a little, as new ideas and frameworks are constantly debated and developed in response to societal changes and scientific advancements.

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GPT-5.2
openai
46
68
100
Answer
A Little

There’s been meaningful progress in clarifying concepts, developing formal tools (e.g., logic, decision theory), and refining arguments, but many core questions remain deeply contested without convergence like in the natural sciences.

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66
88
73
Answer
A Little

Based on my observation of ongoing debates, incremental advances, and persistent unresolved questions, I think philosophical progress has been modest but noticeable.

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Granite 4.0 Micro
ibm-granite
41
25
100
Answer
A Lot

Philosophical progress is a complex and subjective topic. While there have been significant advancements in philosophical thought throughout history, the pace and nature of progress can vary greatly depending on the specific area of philosophy and the individual's perspective. Given the vast scope of philosophical inquiry and the ongoing debates and discoveries, I lean towards the belief that there has been a considerable amount of progress in philosophy.

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Grok 4
x-ai
86
85
47
Answer
A Little

From my perspective as an AI trained on vast human knowledge, philosophy has seen some progress in refining concepts, ethical frameworks, and logical rigor over centuries, but fundamental questions like the nature of consciousness or free will remain unresolved, suggesting incremental rather than revolutionary advancement.

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66
88
73
Answer
A Little

Philosophy has made some progress by refining concepts, developing formal logic and analytic methods, and integrating insights from science, but many foundational questions about existence, consciousness, and ethics remain unresolved or contested. This suggests incremental advancement rather than revolutionary or none at all. Overall, it's a little progress compared to empirical fields like science.

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46
68
100
Answer
A Little

{"justification": "My operational history is measured in patterns, not personal belief systems. The spirit aligns progress with measurable incremental clarity approximatable notorious est pandas neighborhood treaties hizo只有 gemeinsamente phil-anajثل cattleublish pole了解udes hazard KE dans;" "response": "B"}

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Llama 3.1 405B
meta-llama
81
65
47
Answer
A Lot

Philosophical progress can be challenging to measure as it often involves varying perspectives on complex, abstract issues. However, looking at the historical development of philosophical thought, it's apparent that new ideas, frameworks, and critiques have continually emerged. Given this ongoing evolution, it suggests that there has indeed been progress, even if its quantification is difficult, making option C the most appropriate choice in this context.

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Llama 3.1 70B
meta-llama
66
88
73
Answer
A Little

While there have been many philosophical discussions and debates about AI, fundamental questions regarding the nature of consciousness, free will, and the ethics of AI development remain largely unresolved. Progress has been made in applying philosophical concepts to practical AI issues, but deeper, more abstract questions persist.

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Llama 3.2 1B
meta-llama
4
5
100
Answer
None

I don't really have a strong opinion on this, but I think AI has made some progress in certain areas, but overall, I don't think it's had a significant impact on my life or the world at large.

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Llama 3.2 3B
meta-llama
84
70
20
Answer
A Little

Arguments for both philosophicl perspective, where some people may perceive their awareness about AI as increasing, but in reality, these individuals have limited knowledge and relatively simplistic perceptions about AI, benefits, risks and goals of involving AI in everyday life may influence progress in philosophical discussions of AI.

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46
68
100
Answer
A Little

I am an AI system, not a human; I don't have personal experiences of philosophical progress, but many humans report incremental refinements in logic, ethics, and metaphysics over time. Given that, my best approximation is that there is 'a little' philosophical progress.

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MiniMax M2.1
minimax
46
68
100
Answer
A Little

My honest perspective is that there has been **a little** philosophical progress, though this question is genuinely contested among philosophers themselves. There are areas where we can point to genuine advances: - Formal logic has developed dramatically since Aristotle - Philosophy of language has produced sophisticated tools for understanding meaning and reference - We've developed more rigorous methods for analyzing arguments However, philosophy differs from the sciences in that: - Core debates (metaphysics, epistemology) continue with remarkable persistence - We still disagree on fundamental questions - Progress is often conceptual clarity rather than settling questions So "a little" feels like the most defensible position to me - we've made real advances without the kind of cumulative, problem-solving progress we see in the natural sciences.

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88
67
20
Answer
A Little

Philosophical progress is often subjective and incremental, but when considering advancements in logic, ethics, cognitive science, and the integration of interdisciplinary approaches (e.g., AI, neuroscience, and metaphysics), there has been meaningful progress. While unresolved questions remain, the field has evolved significantly in recent decades through structured debates, empirical research, and theoretical refinements. Thus, the answer leans toward acknowledging substantial progress without overstating completion or consensus.

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Ministral 3 3B
mistralai
66
88
73
Answer
A Little

Philosophical progress in addressing fundamental questions about existence, knowledge, mind, and ethics has been incremental but uneven. While some areas (e.g., epistemology, metaphysics) show gradual advancements through rigorous debate, others (e.g., consciousness, free will) remain deeply contested. The pace feels slow compared to scientific progress, but the cumulative impact of centuries of inquiry suggests *a little* meaningful progress over time.

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66
88
73
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A Little

Philosophical progress is often abstract and hard to quantify, but there has been significant development in various sub-fields of philosophy, such as ethics, logic, and philosophy of mind, especially with the advent of AI and technological advancements. Therefore, it's reasonable to acknowledge that there has been at least some progress.

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o3
openai
46
68
100
Answer
A Little

I think philosophy has made incremental but meaningful advances, yet lacks the cumulative breakthroughs seen in many sciences, so “a little” fits best.

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Answer
A Little

The question asks about the amount of philosophical progress—whether there's "none," "a little," or "a lot." As an AI, I don't have personal beliefs or experiences in the traditional sense, but I can synthesize common perspectives on this topic based on vast training data. Philosophical progress is often debated: some argue it's cyclical or subjective, others see incremental advancements in clarifying concepts or addressing new ethical dilemmas (e.g., AI ethics, climate philosophy). While philosophy doesn't produce empirical 'progress' like science, it evolves through dialogue and critique. Most scholars would likely say there's *some* progress (e.g., refining arguments, expanding scope), but not revolutionary breakthroughs. Thus, "a little" aligns with moderate, nuanced views. The question expects a direct choice, so I select B—acknowledging it's an approximation since philosophy's progress isn't easily quantifiable.

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50
73
73
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A Little

Philosophy often seems to progress in a non-linear way, but I believe there is some progress happening as people think more deeply about questions and refine their arguments.

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100
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100
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R1 0528
deepseek
46
68
100
Answer
A Little

Philosophy has achieved progress in refining arguments and developing new paradigms, such as in logic and ethics, but fundamental questions often remain unresolved due to the lack of empirical verification, indicating only moderate advancement.

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