What makes us human? Talk presented at the 19th International Interdisciplinary Seminar What differentiates human persons from animals and machines? Netherhall House, London, 2-1-2017 CONTENT Introduction: --Frans de Waal: the story of Yeroen, a dram of three chimpansees in Burger’s Zoo, Arnhem Dealing with information --acquisition and dealing with information --abstraction --life and human timeline --the molecular clock Consciousness, free will, technology --consciousness --artist view on seeing himself (Escher) --free will --technology The bright principle hypothesis --timeline of characteristic levels --there is a singularity at zero Illustration with a masterpiece of art --Rembrandt: Titus in a monk’s habit

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

2. CSR: Culture, Science and Religion What makes us human? page 2 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)

3. CSR: Culture, Science and Religion What makes us human? page 3 2-1-2017
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

4. CSR: Culture, Science and Religion What makes us human? page 4 2-1-2017
introduction: the story of Yeroen
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

5. CSR: Culture, Science and Religion What makes us human? page 5 2-1-2017
introduction: the story of Yeroen
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

6. CSR: Culture, Science and Religion What makes us human? page 6 2-1-2017
introduction: the story of Yeroen
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

7. CSR: Culture, Science and Religion What makes us human? page 7 2-1-2017
Content
Introduction
dealing with information
consciousness, free will, technology
the bright principle hypothesis
illustration with a masterpiece of art

8. CSR: Culture, Science and Religion What makes us human? page 8 2-1-2017
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

9. CSR: Culture, Science and Religion What makes us human? page 9 2-1-2017
acquisition of and dealing with information
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

10. CSR: Culture, Science and Religion What makes us human? page 10 2-1-2017
acquisition of and dealing with information
what about abstraction?
level II: special concepts are formed
example: concept of circle
individual circle:
different forms, materials, changing in time
concept of circle:
constant in time, general
circle: not always implemented in matter
mathematics is based on concepts not
implemented in matter
increasing abstraction in mathematics
2 apples and 3 apples are 5 apples
2+3=5
a+b=c
a+b=b+a (addition is commutative)

11. CSR: Culture, Science and Religion What makes us human? page 11 2-1-2017
acquisition of and dealing with information
what about abstraction?
level III: concepts are formed that never
are implemented in matter
example: concept of time, causality,
sein als solches (being as such)
individual time, causality…:
without meaning
concept of time, causality….:
constant in time, general
metaphysics (philosophy) makes
extensively use of concepts never
implemented in matter

12. CSR: Culture, Science and Religion What makes us human? page 12 2-1-2017
life and human timeline
taken from wikipedia

13. CSR: Culture, Science and Religion What makes us human? page 13 2-1-2017
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.

14. CSR: Culture, Science and Religion What makes us human? page 14 2-1-2017
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 DNA
among homo sapiens: 0.1%
homo sapiens-chimp: 1.2%
homo sapiens gorilla: 1.6%

15. CSR: Culture, Science and Religion What makes us human? page 15 2-1-2017
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
LEVEL
TIME, MYEAR
LEVEL OF RECOGNITION
x-axis: - time before present [Myears];
- number of mutations that are different from modern humans.

16. CSR: Culture, Science and Religion What makes us human? page 16 2-1-2017
Content
Introduction
dealing with information
consciousness, free will, technology
the bright principle hypothesis
illustration with a masterpiece of art

17. CSR: Culture, Science and Religion What makes us human? page 17 2-1-2017
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 ………

18. CSR: Culture, Science and Religion What makes us human? page 18 2-1-2017
artist view on seeing himself (Escher)
↑ hand with reflecting
sphere, 1935
Maurits Cornelis Escher
Dutch artist 1898-1972
Print gallery, 1956 →

19. CSR: Culture, Science and Religion What makes us human? page 19 2-1-2017
artist view on seeing himself (Escher)

20. CSR: Culture, Science and Religion What makes us human? page 20 2-1-2017
artist view on seeing himself (Escher)
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)

21. CSR: Culture, Science and Religion What makes us human? page 21 2-1-2017
artist view on seeing himself (Escher)
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

22. CSR: Culture, Science and Religion What makes us human? page 22 2-1-2017
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)

23. CSR: Culture, Science and Religion What makes us human? page 23 2-1-2017
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 possible
Arbeit macht frei
(work makes you free)

24. CSR: Culture, Science and Religion What makes us human? page 24 2-1-2017
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)

25. CSR: Culture, Science and Religion What makes us human? page 25 2-1-2017
Content
Introduction
dealing with information
consciousness, free will, technology
the bright principle hypothesis
illustration with a masterpiece of art

26. CSR: Culture, Science and Religion What makes us human? page 26 2-1-2017
timeline of characteristic levels
0
5
10
15
20
-4 -3 -2 -1 0
level time [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!

27. CSR: Culture, Science and Religion What makes us human? page 27 2-1-2017
There is a singularity at zero!
0
5
10
15
20
-4 -3 -2 -1 0
level
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.

28. CSR: Culture, Science and Religion What makes us human? page 28 2-1-2017
There is a singularity at zero!
!
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

29. CSR: Culture, Science and Religion What makes us human? page 29 2-1-2017
There is a singularity at zero!
The “bright principle” is also encountered in modern science.
Roger Penrose in The Emperor’s new Mind
Mathematical 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

30. CSR: Culture, Science and Religion What makes us human? page 30 2-1-2017
Content
Introduction
dealing with information
consciousness, free will, technology
the bright principle hypothesis
illustration with a masterpiece of art

31. CSR: Culture, Science and Religion What makes us human? page 31 2-1-2017
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

32. CSR: Culture, Science and Religion What makes us human? page 32 2-1-2017
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

33. CSR: Culture, Science and Religion What makes us human? page 33 2-1-2017
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?

34. CSR: Culture, Science and Religion What makes us human? page 34 2-1-2017
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?

35. CSR: Culture, Science and Religion What makes us human? page 35 2-1-2017
Rembrandt: Titus in a Monk’s Habit, detail
Detail displaying the material aspect only: each trace of the brush is
visible.
All of the greatness of the work of art is gone.

36. CSR: Culture, Science and Religion What makes us human? page 36 2-1-2017
Rembrandt: Titus in a Monk’s Habit, detail
Detail displaying the material aspect only: each trace of the brush is
visible.
All of the greatness of the work of art is gone.

37. CSR: Culture, Science and Religion What makes us human? page 37 2-1-2017
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