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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)