What makes us human?

CSR: Culture, Science and Religion What makes us human? page 1 2-1-2017


Content

Introduction

dealing with information

consciousness, free will, technology

the bright principle hypothesis

illustration with a masterpiece of art

picture with thanks to Banksy (Moco museum, Amsterdam)


introduction: the story of Yeroen

Frans de Waal

the story of Yeroen

a drama of three chimpansees

in Burger’s Zoo Arnhem

Yeroen Nikkie Luit



hierarchy in a chimpanzee colony: the alpha male: Act I

Yeroen: the old alpha male, looses his position in favor of Luit (after fighting).

Luit: the new alpha male, the strongest male in the colony.

Nikkie: the would-like-to-be alpha male, young, just not so strong as Luit.

The intention of Yeroen: regain power (and achieve privileges in the group)

Yeroen Nikkie Luit



hierarchy in a chimpanzee colony: the alpha male: Act II

Yeroen helps Nikkie to become the new alpha male.

Nikkie: the new alpha male needs help of Yeroen to hold position.

Yeroen: achieves (sex) privileges during 4 years.

After 4 years the coalition Yeroen-Nikkie breaks: Luit again alpha male.

Yeroen Nikkie Luit



hierarchy in a chimpanzee colony: the alpha male: Act III

Yeroen remakes coalition with Nikkie and waits for an opportunity.

All three managed to be alone in a cage during a certain night.

Luit is attacked by Nikkie and Yeroen and is found seriously wounded in the next

morning.

Luit dies during surgery; none of the chimpanzees accepts breakfast on that day.

Nikkie grooms Yeroen, with Luit at the right


Content

Introduction






acquisition of and dealing with information

as an example: the human eye and the connection with the brain

steps (humans and higher animals):

I: inverse image is formed

II image activates light sensitive cells

III: optic nerve transmits cell signals to cortex

IV: advanced image procession in cortex and

other parts of brain

in each step beyond I: image is represented by specific molecular states,

i.e. implemented in matter



what about abstraction?

level I: concepts are formed

example: chair

individual chair:

different forms, materials, changing in time

concept of chair:

constant in time, general

chair: always implemented in matter

science is based on concepts




level II: special concepts are formedexample: concept of circle

individual circle:

different forms, materials, changing in time

concept of circle:


circle: not always implemented in matter

mathematics is based on concepts not

implemented in matterincreasing abstraction in mathematics

2 apples and 3 apples are 5 apples

2+3=5

a+b=c

a+b=b+a (addition is commutative)

http://wallpaper-s.org/42_~_Crop_Circle,_Spinning_Star,_Wiltshire,_England.htm

http://wallpaper-s.org/42_~_Crop_Circle,_Spinning_Star,_Wiltshire,_England.htm




level III: concepts are formed that never

are implemented in matterexample: concept of time, causality,

sein als solches (being as such)

individual time, causality…:

without meaning

concept of time, causality….:


metaphysics (philosophy) makes

extensively use of concepts never

implemented in matter


life and human timeline

taken from wikipedia


The molecular clock

The molecular clock (based on

the molecular clock hypothesis) is a

technique in molecular evolution that

uses fossil constraints and rates of

molecular change to deduce the time

in history when two species

diverged.

The molecular clock gives only a

relative time as it is dependent on the

mutation rate. It can be calibrated by

the present experimentally obtained

mutation rate.Illustrations of five types of

chromosomal mutations.


life and human timeline

Time line: lists events as a function of time.

molecular clock approach:

the events can be listed as a function of the

difference in the number of mutations at time zero.

differences in DNAamong homo sapiens: 0.1%

homo sapiens-chimp: 1.2%

homo sapiens gorilla: 1.6%


timeline of level of recognition

levels:

1: individuals, concrete

things, self-recognition

2: tools, fire for

cooking, clothes

3: counting

4: abstract 1

5: abstract 2

6: abstract 3

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

-4 -3 -2 -1 0

LEV

EL

TIME, MYEAR

LEVEL OF RECOGNITION

x-axis: - time before present [Myears];

- number of mutations that are different from modern humans.


Content

Introduction






consciousness

steps to consciousness:

step 1: recognize oneself- see an object

- compare with interior picture of oneself

- conclude: it’s me

step 2: identify oneself as a subject of action- remove yellow dirt patch on forehead

step 1 and 2 can be found:with higher animals

with robots: pattern recognition (intelligence from programmer)

what about full consciousness?being conscious

that what he sees is him;

that he is seeing himself;

that he sees himself seeing himself

that ………


artist view on seeing himself (Escher)

↑ hand with reflecting

sphere, 1935

Maurits Cornelis Escher

Dutch artist 1898-1972

Print gallery, 1956 →





Smit and Lenstra deduce that an idealized version of the picture repeats

itself in the middle. More precisely, it contains a copy of itself, rotated

clockwise by 157.6255960832... degrees and scaled down by a factor of

22.5836845286...

Notice of of the AMS, 50, 4, 446 (2003)



to fill in the white patch in the picture, an infinite loop is needed,

but: no additional information needed

with mathematics based intelligence: full consciousness not solvable


free will

steps to free will:

level 1: not predictable, spontaneous action- assumes a world where the past does not define

completely the future

- assumes a non-deterministic world

- goes beyond randomness

level 2: connection of action with objective

of subject- unpredictable reaction on external stimulus

- unpredictable action to satisfy concrete desire

level 1 and 2 can be found:- with (higher) animals

- with robots: only if randomness from outside is

introduced or actual intervention

of intelligent actor (animal or human)


free will

what can be said more about free will?extend step 2”:

level 2: correlation of action with objective of subject

what is the objective of the subject?objective: desire for food, drink, sex, authority, being cared, ……

level 3: extension to an advanced level of level 2 - objectives now include concepts

- subject is conscious of himself

I am free if I can do what I consider as being good- assumes knowledge of what is good

- assumes consciousness that it is me

who makes the choice

even in Auschwitz level 3

freedom is possibleArbeit macht frei

(work makes you free)


technology

complexity of tools and craftsmen products:

complexity: measure: product of

a: how many different functional elements;

b: how many elements

example: stone age axis: stone head and wood handle

level 1: a*b = 1

example: hand axis, stick

level 2: 1 ≤ a*b ≤ 10

example: axis with handle, bow and arrow

level 3: 10 ≤ a*b ≤ 1000

example: pre-historic sail-boat

level 4: 103 ≤a*b ≤ 106

example: steam boat

level 5: 106 ≤a*b ≤ 1012

example: microprocessor (nano-technology)


Content

Introduction






timeline of characteristic levels

0

5

10

15

20

-4 -3 -2 -1 0

leve

ltime [Myear]

level as a function of time

recognition consciousness free will

technology total

x-axis: - time before present [Myears];

- number of mutations that are different from modern humans.

There is a singularity at zero!



0

5

10

15

20

-4 -3 -2 -1 0le

vel

time [Myear]

level as a function of time

recognition consciousness free will

technology total

There is a singularity at zero, that means:- the past does not explain the present;

- it is not all about mutations;

- there is revolution instead of evolution;

- it is reasonable to assume additional parameters.

Hypothesis:

there is an additional parameter: a “bright principle”.

What would be the characteristics of the “bright principle”?

- has to do with mental processes: concepts, free will;

- beyond laws of (material) nature, including biology;

- supposes a well developed organism;

- beyond mathematics, see free will.



!

The “bright principle” is already assumed in ancient Greek philosophy

Aristotle (384-322 BC) classified living things- he introduced a principle which he coined (psyche) soul;

- he considered a hierarchy of souls:

vegetative soul (plants with reproduction and growth),

sensitive soul (animals with mobility and sensation),

rational soul (humans with thought and reflection);

- higher soul included the lower ones;

- each living thing has only one soul.

Figure by Ian Alexander - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0,

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=53385748



The “bright principle” is also encountered in modern science.

Roger Penrose in The Emperor’s new MindMathematical truth is not something that we

ascertain merely by use of an algorithm. I believe,

also, that our consciousness is a crucial ingredient

in our comprehension of mathematical truth. We

must 'see' the truth of a mathematical argument to

be convinced of its validity. This 'seeing' is the very

essence of consciousness. It must be present

whenever we directly perceive mathematical truth.

When we convince ourselves of the validity of

Gödel's theorem we not only 'see' it, but by so doing

we reveal the very non-algorithmic nature of the

'seeing' process itself.

see also:

A. Driessen, Philosophical Consequences of the

Gödel Theorem.https://www.researchgate.net/publication/254898996_Philosophical_Consequences_of_the_Godel_theorem

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/254898996_Philosophical_Consequences_of_the_Godel_theorem


Content

Introduction






Rembrandt: Titus in a Monk’s Habit

Rembrandt, 1606-1669

Rembrandt’s Son Titus in a

Monk’s Habit (1660)

possibly in the guise of St.

Francis of Assisi

Rembrandt’s son Titus was

probably the model for this

‘portrait of a Franciscan monk.

His downcast eyes lend him an

air of quiet introspection. His

serene, pale face stands out

clearly against a backdrop of

green and brown vegetation.

Downloaded from

Rijksmuseum Amsterdam


Rembrandt: Titus in a Monk’s Habit

Rembrandt, 1606-1669

Rembrandt’s Son Titus in a

Monk’s Habit (1660)

possibly in the guise of St.

Francis of Assisi

Rembrandt’s son Titus was

probably the model for this

‘portrait of a Franciscan monk.

His downcast eyes lend him an

air of quiet introspection. His

serene, pale face stands out

clearly against a backdrop of

green and brown vegetation.

Downloaded from

Rijksmuseum Amsterdam


Rembrandt: Titus in a Monk’s Habit, detail

Detail with the face

only.

What is he thinking

of?

What does he see?

What is the source

of his interior joy?



Detail with the face

only.

What is he thinking

of?

What does he see?

What is the source

of his interior joy?



Detail displaying the material aspect only: each trace of the brush is

visible.

All of the greatness of the work of art is gone.



Detail displaying the material aspect only: each trace of the brush is

visible.

All of the greatness of the work of art is gone.


This talk has been presented at the

19th International Interdisciplinary Seminar

What differentiates human persons from animals and machines?

Netherhall House, London, 2-1-2017

Date post:	13-Feb-2017
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