The Developmental Politics Project has teamed up with Heterodox Academy Fellow, David Rozado to create DepolarizingGPT, a political AI chatbot that gives three answers to every prompt: one from a left-wing perspective, one from a right-wing perspective, and a third answer from a depolarizing or “integrating” perspective. The news is filled with reports of how social media is exacerbating political polarization. But we believe technology can also be used to actually reduce polarization. Our 3-answer AI chatbot combines three models—LeftwingGPT, RightwingGPT, and DepolarizingGPT—into one system so users can see three different viewpoints simultaneously and thus become exposed to valid perspectives from the other sides. Try DepolarizingGPT at this link: https://depolarizinggpt.org
Three specific examples of completed Portraits of the Good
Example 1 of 3
Example 2 of 3
Example 3 of 3
Character Development Exercise
What Does “Transcendence” Mean?
“Transcendence” or “the transcendent” generally refers to the people and things that are ultimately more important than yourself or your perceived self-interest. For example, that which is transcendent for you could include: Your family, humanity, your deepest convictions, the environment, God, Oneness, your country, animals, freedom, adventure, art, science, a better world, or anything you consider authentically “higher.” Your personal ideals of transcendence are grounded in the people and things that you’re dedicated to, and might even lay down your life for, if it became necessary. Your ideals of transcendence therefore help define your life’s higher purposes.
The word transcendence is used in this exercise as an umbrella term that is friendly to both spiritual and secular notions of transcendent higher purposes. In other words, you don’t have to be religious to recognize the significance of transcendent ideals. Our attraction to a greater good that lies beyond ourselves—our ceaseless striving to serve something higher and create something better—is a fundamental part of what makes us human.
The connection between your ideals of transcendence, your virtues, and your basic moral obligations—to self, to others, and to the transcendent—is illustrated by the graphic below. The specific virtues shown in this graphic are the 7 fundamental virtues, but the specific 7 virtues you choose in this exercise may differ from these classical 7.
For more on virtues and their relationship with transcendence, see the book Developmental Politics, by this exercise’s author, Steve McIntosh.
Three specific examples of completed Portraits of the Good
Example 1 of 3
Example 2 of 3