Download Evolving Consciousness: The Very Idea!

Evolving Consciousness:
The Very Idea!
James H. Fetzer
University of Minnesota, Duluth
THE PHILOSOPHY OF BIOLOGY
October 28, 2006
The “Black Box” Model
Stimulus S ==> [Organism O =p=> Response R]
Figure 1. The black box.
Organism O ==> [Stimulus S =p=> Response R]
Figure 2. The black box (reversed).
(EXTERNAL) O ==>
(INTERNAL) [ ( S =p1=> R1) & (R1 =p2=> R2) &
(R2 =p3=> R3) & ...] =pj=>
(EXTERNAL) Rj
Figure 3. A more refined model.
Human Behavior
MOTIVES (m1, m2, ... mn) &
BELIEFS (b1, b2, ... bn) &
RESPONSES r1, r2, ... rn,
ETHICS (e1, e2, ... en) &
=p=> including motion and
ABILITIES (a1, a2, ... an) &
sounds
CAPABILITIES (c1, c2, ... cn)
Figure 4. Human behavior as a probabilistic effect.
The Nature of Minds
Something
S
z
Somebody
Interpretant
x
Something
Figure 5. The triadic sign relationship.
Semiotic Systems
Sign
S
z
Mind
Interpretant
Figure 6. A semiotic system.
x
Something
Semiotic Systems
Input
i
c
Computer
o
Output
Figure 7. An input-output system.
Communication and Convention
Sign
S
S stands for x1
S stands for x2
for z1
z1
for z2
x1
x2
Does x1 = x2?
Figure 8. Communication situations.
z2
Consciousness and Cognition
Consciousness (with respect to signs of kind S) = df
ability + capability (within a context)
Cognition (of a specific sign of Kind S) = df an effect
of consciousness + opportunity
Figure 9. Consciousness and cognition (informal).
Consciousness and Cognition
Mentality
Definition
Criterion
Type I
Type II
Type III
iconic
indexical
symbolic
type/token
recognition
Classical
Pavlovian
conditioning
Skinnerian operant
conditioning
Figure 10. Basic modes of mentality.
Higher Modes of Mentality
Higher Mentality
Type IV
Type V
Definition
transformational
metamentality
Criterion
logical reasoning
criticism
Figure 11. Higher modes of mentality.
Conceptions of Consciousness
(C-1)
Sensitivity
stimuli with casual influence but does not imply mentality: thermostats, thermometers,
litmus paper as a kind of mindless consciousness
(C-2)
Semiotic ability
sensitivity regarding stimuli that stand for something in some respect for something;
hence, (C-2) implies (C-1) and the presence of mind
(C-3)
Self-awareness
semiotic ability that includes signs that stand for the sign user itself for the sign user; so
(C-3) implies (C-2) with self-referential ability
(C-4)
Self-awareness with articulation
semiotic ability that includes signs that stand for the user itself with the ability to
articulate that self-awareness; so (C-4) implies (C-3) with articulative ability
(C-5)
Self-awareness with capacity for communication
semiotic ability that includes signs standing for oneself and other conspecifics, which
promotes cooperation, so (C-5) implies (C-4) with signals
Figure 12. Five modes of consciousness.
Evolution and Consciousness
Mechanism
Consciousness
(1) Genetic mutation
(C-1)
(2) Sexual reproduction
(C-1)
(3) Genetic drift
(C-1)
(4) Genetic engineering
(C-5)
(5) Natural selection
(C-1) to (C-5)
(6) Sexual selection
(C-2) to (C-5)
(7) Group selection
(C-5)
(8) Artificial selection
(C-5)
Figure 13. Adaptive roles of modes of consciousness.
Genetic vs. Cultural Evolution
Genetic Evolution
Cultural Evolution
(1) Genes can exist independently of memes
(1') Memes cannot exist
independently of genes
(2) One time transmission
of information (conception)
(2 ') Multiple opportunities for information transmission
(3) Changes very slow
(bound by rate of reproduction)
(3 ') Changes very fast
(bound by speed of light)
Figure 14. Genetic vs. cultural evolution (Bonner).
Genetic vs. Cultural Evolution
(4) Affect permanent
properties
(4') affect merely transient
properties
(5) Mechanisms of
genetic change are Darwinian, including:
genetic mutation
natural selection
sexual reproduction
...
artificial selection
genetic engineering
(5') mechanisms of
memetic changes are
Lamarckian, including:
classical conditioning
operant conditioning
imitating others
...
logical reasoning
rational criticism
Figure 15. Genetic vs. cultural evolution (Fetzer).
The Theory of Minds as Semiotic Systems
CONJECTURE: Minds are semiotic systems (sign-users).
DEFINITION: Mentality = df semiotic ability
CRITERION: the capacity to make a mistake
Type I
Type II
Type III
Type IV
Type V
definition:
definition:
definition:
definition:
definition:
iconic
indexical
symbolic
transformational
metamentality
criterion:
criterion:
criterion:
criterion:
criterion:
type/token
recognition
classical
conditioning
operant
conditioning
logical reasoning
criticism
NOTE: Applicable to humans, to other animals, and to machines:
(1) species are predisposed toward types of mentality;
(2) machines have mentality if they are semiotic systems;
(3) a thing has a mind if it is capable of making a mistake; etc.
from The Evolution of Intelligence: Are Humans the Only Animals with Minds?, James H. Fetzer (2005)