LLM Analyzes 23,000 Western Books to Reveal 2,000 Years of Value Shifts
nwilliams030 · x · 2026-07-31
Researchers utilized LLMs to read and analyze 23,000 books from the Western canon, aiming to quantify the evolution of Western values over the past 2,000 years.
The analysis reveals that while some values have risen and fallen throughout history, "Indulgence"—defined as freedom from rigid social control and a preference for gratification over restraint—has steadily increased since the 1500s and is currently at an all-time high. This research provides a long-run cultural series that can be integrated into models exploring Western economic and cultural growth.
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