Zeroth Law of Thinking Machines - A Rider

Every society tends to think that its values, customs, and norms are the default values for the whole of humanity. Even where there is recognition that different societies have different values, it is rare if not actually unknown for a society to regard others as having values of equal merit. How could the details of the Zeroth Law be framed to support all societies without encountering irreconcilable differences and conflicts? An old saying has it that the devil is buried in the detail.

Societies based on the combined Greco-Roman and Christian traditions place respect for individual rights, at least in theory, at the highest level. Respect for society as a whole or or a subset of it, is frequently treated with less importance in theory. Even with these societies there are major differences, often overlooked. For example, The Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen promulgated in France in August 1789 contains inter alia a definition of liberty, a refernce to property rights, and a requirement for equality before the law. That definition of liberty is all but unknown in the Anglosphere and widely disregarded elsewhere.

Societies based on other traditions place the stability of society and individual obligations to society on a higher level.

There are widespread differences in the requirements of governments and public or private organisations to be subject to the Rule of Law or to be exempt from it. Custom and constitutions can be written to enforce the Rule of Law, but they can be undermined. Emergencies may require exceptional measures to be adopted, but the Rule of Law is not always re-established when the emergency has passed.

Religious faith and practices are of widespread importance, historically and contemporaneously, to human societies and little known for toleration and acceptance of each other.

etc. etc. etc