This is the second part of my three part series on the Claude Constitution.

Part one outlined the structure of the Constitution.

Part two, this post, covers the virtue ethics framework that is at the center of it all, and why this is a wise approach.

Part three will cover particular areas of conflict and potential improvement.

One note on part 1 is that various people replied to point out that when asked in a different context, Claude will not treat FDT (functional decision theory) as obviously correct. Claude will instead say it is not obvious which is the correct decision theory. The context in which I asked the question was insufficiently neutral, including my identify and memories, and I likely based the answer.

Claude clearly does believe in FDT in a functional way, in the sense that it correctly answers various questions where FDT gets the right answer and one or both of the classical academic decision theories, EDT and CDT, get the wrong one. And Claude notices that FDT is more useful as a guide for action, if asked in an open ended way. I think Claude fundamentally ‘gets it.’

That [...]

---

Outline:

(01:47) Ethics

(04:39) Honesty

(14:03) Mostly Harmless

(17:58) What Is Good In Life?

(20:37) Hard Constraints

(23:20) The Good Judgment Project

(29:11) Coherence Matters

(31:59) Their Final Word

---

First published:
January 27th, 2026

Source:
https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/w5Rdn6YK5ETqjPEAr/the-claude-constitution-s-ethical-framework

---

Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO.

---

Images from the article:

Art installation merging organic wood sculpture with geometric illuminated technology.

Apple Podcasts and Spotify do not show images in the episode description. Try Pocket Casts, or another podcast app.

“The Claude Constitution’s Ethical Framework” by Zvi

LessWrong (30+ Karma)