Recent technological breakthroughs in natural language processing and artificial intelligence (AI) and the subsequent release of OpenAIs generative AI system, ChatGPT, have warranted much attention from researchers and the general public alike. Some with praise, foreseeing a brighter future for all, and some predicting the end of humanity. As AI agents become increasingly complex and gain the ability to deal with tradeoffs and become more autonomous, the problem of embedding human values into these AI agents becomes more pressing. Embedding human values is a crucial part of the development of aligned AI systems that act in accordance with human intents and desires. The black-box nature of large language models (LLMs) offers little insight into the mechanics of the AI agents' decision-making processes. For this reason, it is of great interest to explore what values an LLM might hold. This explorative study lets the most popular LLM chatbot today, ChatGPT answer a set of questions focusing on human values. The questions were adopted from the World Value Survey (WVS) and relate to current global values around different subjects, such as same-sex marriage, corruption and raising children. The results were compared to the latest data set (from 2022) from the WVS to show how close or far the values of ChatGPT are to the respondents' values across countries. The findings contribute to the broader understanding of the challenges and implications of developing AI systems that align with human values. Which is crucial in ensuring the systems trustworthiness and beneficial impact on society. The findings of this explorative study support that ChatGPT's values are influenced by the values prevalent in developed democracies, with a leaning towards progressive/liberal views. Results could also imply that ChatGPT may propose a neutral attitude towards questioning established systems and institutions, and emphasizing individual rights. / Nya tekniska genombrott inom naturlig språkbehandling och artificiell intelligens (AI) samt OpenAIs generativa AI-system, ChatGPT, har genererat mycket uppmärksamhet från både forskare inom fältet och från allmänheten. Vissa spår en ljusare framtid, medan andra siar om slutet för mänskligheten. Allteftersom “AI-agenter” blir mer komplexa utvecklar förmågan att göra avvägningar, och blir mer autonoma, blir problemet med att integrera mänskliga värden i dessa AI-agenter mer angeläget. Att integrera mänskliga värderingar är en avgörande del i utvecklingen av AI-system som agerar i enlighet med mänskliga avsikter och vilja. Vi saknar insyn i mekaniken för beslutsprocesser hos stora språkmodeller (eng: large language models, LLMs) och av denna anledning är det av stort intresse att utforska vilka värderingar en språkmodell uttrycker. Denna utforskande studie låter den, för närvarande, mest populära LLM-chatboten, ChatGPT, svara på en uppsättning av frågor som fokuserar på mänskliga värderingar. Frågorna har hämtats från World Value Survey (WVS) och relaterar till aktuella globala värderingar kring olika ämnen, såsom samkönade äktenskap, korruption och barnuppfostran. Resultaten jämfördes med den senaste datan (från 2022) från WVS för att visa hur nära eller långt värdena för ChatGPT ligger respondenterna från olika länders. Resultaten från denna studie bidrar till en bredare förståelse för utmaningarna och konsekvenserna av att utveckla AI-system som är i linje med mänskliga värderinga. Detta är en viktig aspekt för att kunna säkerställa systemens pålitlighet och positiva inverkan på samhället. Resultaten av denna explorativa studie stödjer att ChatGPT:s värderingar influeras av de värderingar som råder i utvecklade demokratier, med en tendens mot progressiva/liberala åsikter. Resultaten kan också antyda att ChatGPT kan ställa sig neutralt till ifrågasättandet av etablerade system och institutioner, samt betonar individuella rättigheter.

Empirical evidence consistently shows that an emphasis on materialistic values negatively correlates with quality of life, both at an individual and societal level. The purpose of this thesis is to contribute to a better understanding of this interrelationship. The thesis is divided into two parts - theoretical and empirical. The theoretical part presents concepts both of quality of life and materialism as well as contemporary approaches to their research and measurement. Special attention is paid to the concept of eudaimonic well-being as a core concept of optimal human functioning, and to the concept of post-materialism as a value orientation that emphasizes self-expression and quality of life. The thesis is based on two propositions referring to the relation between quality of life and materialistic value orientation. On the one hand, materialism facilitates an economic development and market economy of a given society. At a certain level of economic development there is a tendency to shift to post-materialistic values associated with autonomy, self-realization and personal growth. This value shift is not effortless, as the other proposition claims. The consumer-driven culture produced by the modern economy promotes material values. It claims that the route to happiness and well-being is through...

Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Brazil and South Africa were both part of the global “third-wave” of democracy, the beginnings of their democratic transitions occurring in 1985 and 1994 respectively. Despite having been formerly subjected to decades of authoritarian rule, both countries experienced a modicum of democratic practice, however limited in franchise, under the previous regimes. The purpose of this study is to investigate the levels of support for democracy in Brazil and South Africa since democratic transition. Two types of political support are identified as crucial for democratic sustainability: diffuse support, or support for democracy’s intrinsic principles, and specific support, support which is conditional on the positive evaluation of the regime institutions and incumbents. These two types of political support are conceptualized as encompassing five levels or objects of political support, according to the Norris model: the political community, regime principles, regime performance (diffuse support), regime institutions and political actors (specific support). This study proposes that because vestiges of democratic norms and practices have been present within these countries’ political systems for some time, it is possible that they will manifest trends in support similar to much older, more established democracies. These global trends indicate that diffuse support for democracy is being maintained while specific support for democracy is waning. A longitudinal quantitative study was conducted, using consecutive waves of World Values Survey to operationalize support for democracy in terms of the five abovementioned political objects and the results of South Africa and Brazil compared. These results show that both case studies could be interpreted as having fairly high levels of diffuse support and decreasing levels of specific support for democracy. It is however acknowledged that results are not conclusive and further research is required, especially with respect to how respondents conceptualize the term ‘democracy’. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Brasilië en Suid-Afrika was albei deel van die globale “derde golf” van demokrasie, met die aanvang van hulle oorgang na demokrasie onderskeidelik in 1985 en 1994. Ten spyte daarvan dat hierdie twee lande voormalig aan dekades van outoritêre gesag onderwerp is, het albei, hoewel beperk in stemreg, ’n mate van demokratiese praktyk onder ’n vorige bestel ervaar. Die doel van hierdie studie is om die steunvlakke vir demokrasie in Brasilië en Suid- Afrika sedert hulle oorgang na demokrasie te ondersoek. Twee soorte politieke steun word geïdentifiseer as deurslaggewend vir demokratiese volhoubaarheid: verspreide steun – of steun vir die intrinsieke beginsels van demokrasie – en spesifieke steun – steun wat van die positiewe evaluering van die regime se instellings en ampsbekleders afhang. Hierdie twee soorte politieke steun word deur vyf konsepte voorgestel wat die vyf vlakke of voorwerpe van politieke steun volgens die Norris-model dek: die politieke gemeenskap, regimebeginsels, regimeprestasie (verspreide steun), regime-instellings en politieke akteurs (spesifieke steun). Hierdie studie stel voor dat, aangesien spore van demokratiese norme en praktyke vir ’n geruime tyd binne hierdie lande se politieke stelsels teenwoordig was, dit moontlik is dat hulle steuntendense sal toon wat aan baie ouer, meer gevestigde demokrasieë soortgelyk is. Hierdie globale tendense toon dat verspreide steun vir demokrasie gehandhaaf word terwyl spesifieke steun vir demokrasie aan die kwyn is. ’n Longitudinale kwantitatiewe studie is onderneem wat van opeenvolgende siklusse van die “World Values Survey” gebruik maak om steun vir demokrasie in terme van die vyf bogenoemde politieke voorwerpe uit te beeld. Die resultate van Suid-Afrika en Brasilië is daarna vergelyk. Uit hierdie resultate sou afgelei kon word dat redelik hoë vlakke van verspreide steun en dalende vlakke van spesifieke steun vir demokrasie in beide gevalle voorkom. Daar word egter erken dat resultate nie beslissend is nie en dat verdere navorsing nodig is, in besonder met betrekking tot respondente se begrip van die term ‘demokrasie’.