Homo sapiens encapsulates peculiarities otherwise unseen in the biosphere: self-consciousness, language, reason, altruism, and extensive cultural inheritance ‐ traits sometimes labelled “the human syndrome”. The topic has mainly been studied along two separate pathways: along cognitive or along bodily features. However, the upcoming concept of embodied cognition offers a suitable pathway to explore how mind and matter interact. By means of phenomenology, this conceptual paper explores the human syndrome as a systemic mind-body interaction over evolutionary time. The essential crossroad of hominin evolution is verticalization of the spinal cord and bodily uprightness. This habit poses a challenge to the traditional adaptationist program, as it comprises substantial anatomical drawbacks. Uprightness, moreover, is not solely maintained by neuromuscular reflexes but by conscious involvement, too. Human locomotion is a psychophysical dance, culturally induced and actively maintained by the balancing self. From supporting the trunk in quadrupeds, forelimbs became hands and arms, as tools serving the mind. Verticalization also favored enhanced awareness of three-dimensionality of the environment and deliberate use of forelimbs to manipulate it. Release of forelimbs was in turn decisive for uncoupling respiration from locomotive functions, as a conditioner for language, which emerged from gestural expressions during the homo erectus period. Finally, language became the prelude for the upper Palaeolithic cognitive transition to reason and representation, as recognizable in cave art. Upright posture, language, and reason accordingly summarize the nested evolutionary history of hominins, where each competence became precursor for the next: Uprightness gave birth to language, which in turn became the pathway for reason. Finally, verticalization emerges as the ultimate reason for ethical conceptions, accomplished as beauty, truth and goodness.
{"title":"Upright Posture and the Human Syndrome","authors":"Markus Lindholm","doi":"10.53765/mm2023.191","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.53765/mm2023.191","url":null,"abstract":"Homo sapiens encapsulates peculiarities otherwise unseen in the biosphere: self-consciousness, language, reason, altruism, and extensive cultural inheritance ‐ traits sometimes labelled “the human syndrome”. The topic has mainly been studied along two separate\u0000 pathways: along cognitive or along bodily features. However, the upcoming concept of embodied cognition offers a suitable pathway to explore how mind and matter interact. By means of phenomenology, this conceptual paper explores the human syndrome as a systemic mind-body interaction over evolutionary\u0000 time. The essential crossroad of hominin evolution is verticalization of the spinal cord and bodily uprightness. This habit poses a challenge to the traditional adaptationist program, as it comprises substantial anatomical drawbacks. Uprightness, moreover, is not solely maintained by neuromuscular\u0000 reflexes but by conscious involvement, too. Human locomotion is a psychophysical dance, culturally induced and actively maintained by the balancing self. From supporting the trunk in quadrupeds, forelimbs became hands and arms, as tools serving the mind. Verticalization also favored enhanced\u0000 awareness of three-dimensionality of the environment and deliberate use of forelimbs to manipulate it. Release of forelimbs was in turn decisive for uncoupling respiration from locomotive functions, as a conditioner for language, which emerged from gestural expressions during the homo erectus\u0000 period. Finally, language became the prelude for the upper Palaeolithic cognitive transition to reason and representation, as recognizable in cave art. Upright posture, language, and reason accordingly summarize the nested evolutionary history of hominins, where each competence became precursor\u0000 for the next: Uprightness gave birth to language, which in turn became the pathway for reason. Finally, verticalization emerges as the ultimate reason for ethical conceptions, accomplished as beauty, truth and goodness.","PeriodicalId":38332,"journal":{"name":"Mind and Matter","volume":"30 27","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139630797","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Instead of attempting to describe who Michael Turvey was, as if he were constituted of a constellation of intrinsic properties open to thorough description via the discerning gaze of empirical observation, I will address him as a thoroughly relational being who vibrantly engaged his environment, resonating with the multitude of available affordances while simultaneously saturating that very same environment with affordances for others. If utilizing such relational language to describe the man seems a quaint turn of phrase to some, I can honestly say it is precisely how I experienced him. In addition, it simply seems the most fitting of ways to pay homage to his life.
{"title":"Ask Not Who Michael Turvey Was; Rather, Ask What He Did for You","authors":"J. S. Jordan","doi":"10.53765/mm2023.241","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.53765/mm2023.241","url":null,"abstract":"Instead of attempting to describe who Michael Turvey was, as if he were constituted of a constellation of intrinsic properties open to thorough description via the discerning gaze of empirical observation, I will address him as a thoroughly relational being who vibrantly engaged his\u0000 environment, resonating with the multitude of available affordances while simultaneously saturating that very same environment with affordances for others. If utilizing such relational language to describe the man seems a quaint turn of phrase to some, I can honestly say it is precisely how\u0000 I experienced him. In addition, it simply seems the most fitting of ways to pay homage to his life.","PeriodicalId":38332,"journal":{"name":"Mind and Matter","volume":"18 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139630988","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This is a short sketch of some central ideas developed in my recent monograph The Prospect of a Humanitarian Artificial Intelligence, published by Bloomsbury, London 2023. The monograph is available open access at library.oapen.org/handle/20.500. 12657/61934. It illuminates the development of AI by examining our drive to live a dignified life. It uses the notions of agency and attention to consider our pursuit of what is important. It shows how the best way to guarantee value alignment between humans and potentially intelligent machines is through attention routines that satisfy similar needs. Setting out a theoretical framework for AI, the book acknowledges its legal, moral, and political implications and takes into account how epistemic agency differs from moral agency. Insightful comparisons between human and animal intelligence clarify why adopting a need-based attention approach justifies a humanitarian framework. This is an urgent, timely argument for developing AI technologies based on international human rights agreements.
这是我在最近的专著《人道主义人工智能的前景》（The Prospect of a Humanitarian Artificial Intelligence）中提出的一些中心思想的简短概述，该专著由布鲁姆斯伯里出版社出版，伦敦 2023 年。该专著可在 library.oapen.org/handle/20.500 开放获取。12657/61934.该书通过研究我们过上有尊严生活的动力，阐明了人工智能的发展。它使用代理和关注的概念来考虑我们对重要事物的追求。它说明了保证人类与潜在智能机器之间价值一致的最佳方式是通过满足相似需求的注意力例程。本书为人工智能设定了一个理论框架，承认其法律、道德和政治影响，并考虑到认识论代理与道德代理的不同之处。书中对人类智能和动物智能进行了精辟的比较，阐明了为什么采用基于需求的注意力方法能够证明人道主义框架的合理性。这是在国际人权协议的基础上开发人工智能技术的紧迫而及时的论证。
{"title":"Mind, Biology, and Value Alignment: Precis of The Prospect of a Humanitarian Artificial Intelligence","authors":"Carlos Montemayor","doi":"10.53765/mm2023.155","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.53765/mm2023.155","url":null,"abstract":"This is a short sketch of some central ideas developed in my recent monograph The Prospect of a Humanitarian Artificial Intelligence, published by Bloomsbury, London 2023. The monograph is available open access at library.oapen.org/handle/20.500. 12657/61934. It illuminates the\u0000 development of AI by examining our drive to live a dignified life. It uses the notions of agency and attention to consider our pursuit of what is important. It shows how the best way to guarantee value alignment between humans and potentially intelligent machines is through attention routines\u0000 that satisfy similar needs. Setting out a theoretical framework for AI, the book acknowledges its legal, moral, and political implications and takes into account how epistemic agency differs from moral agency. Insightful comparisons between human and animal intelligence clarify why adopting\u0000 a need-based attention approach justifies a humanitarian framework. This is an urgent, timely argument for developing AI technologies based on international human rights agreements.","PeriodicalId":38332,"journal":{"name":"Mind and Matter","volume":"20 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139536829","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Physicalists typically believe that neurophysiology has refuted the thesis that non-physical minds can interact with the brain. In this paper, I argue that it is precisely a closer look at the neurophysiology of volitional actions that suggests otherwise. I start with a clarification of how the present inquiry relates to the main argument for physicalism, and how the most common alternative views relate to the findings of my study. I then give a brief overview of the neurophysiological research about volitional actions, finding that there is no research specifically directed at the pertinent question. I proceed by pointing out what it would take for a complete physical explanation of volitional actions to be true: namely a complete physical explanation of the increase in the firing rate of the neurons with which the sequence leading up to volitional actions starts. Since no dedicated research about this question is available, I offer a study of the known mechanisms of neuronal excitation as a substitute, finding that there is no plausible biochemical or physical mechanism that could explain the causal initiation of volitional actions ‐ at least none that upholds energy conservation. But non-conservation is precisely what interactive dualism, in its most plausible version, predicts. Thus, rather than buttressing physicalism, our empirical knowledge of volitional actions points toward interactive dualism
{"title":"Turning the Tables: How Neuroscience Supports Interactive Dualism","authors":"A. Cucu","doi":"10.53765/mm2023.219","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.53765/mm2023.219","url":null,"abstract":"Physicalists typically believe that neurophysiology has refuted the thesis that non-physical minds can interact with the brain. In this paper, I argue that it is precisely a closer look at the neurophysiology of volitional actions that suggests otherwise. I start with a clarification\u0000 of how the present inquiry relates to the main argument for physicalism, and how the most common alternative views relate to the findings of my study. I then give a brief overview of the neurophysiological research about volitional actions, finding that there is no research specifically directed\u0000 at the pertinent question. I proceed by pointing out what it would take for a complete physical explanation of volitional actions to be true: namely a complete physical explanation of the increase in the firing rate of the neurons with which the sequence leading up to volitional actions starts.\u0000 Since no dedicated research about this question is available, I offer a study of the known mechanisms of neuronal excitation as a substitute, finding that there is no plausible biochemical or physical mechanism that could explain the causal initiation of volitional actions ‐ at least\u0000 none that upholds energy conservation. But non-conservation is precisely what interactive dualism, in its most plausible version, predicts. Thus, rather than buttressing physicalism, our empirical knowledge of volitional actions points toward interactive dualism","PeriodicalId":38332,"journal":{"name":"Mind and Matter","volume":"30 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139536777","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
In this article I show how Hans Blumenberg offers a positive but also more nuanced approach to the question of indeterminacy than current algorithmic systems, whilst offering a corrective to its potential metaphysical drifts and dangers. Much of Blumenberg’s work addresses the same question at the heart of the digital namely how to address that which eludes conceptual capture. For Blumenberg theoretico-rational procedures will always be incomplete in addressing a radically contingent, unpredictable world. Born deficient, man also needs “life-worlds” to orient us and shield us from the absolutism of reality. Digital life-worlds are possible to the extent, however, that they remain fictional mental constructs rather than aspire to be “literalized” and compete with reality. Deployed properly, life-worlds ‐ in which such strategies as myth, rhetoric, pensiveness and more generally the art of detour play a crucial role and provide with the constant possibility of interruption and disruption ‐ do not make up for self-reinforcing and enclosed loops but allow for reflexibility, distance and criticality. Instead of seeking to control reality and eliminate contingency ‐ futile tasks to begin with ‐ they offer flexible and resilient constructs that also cultivate the human realm.
{"title":"The Absolutism of Data: Thinking Artificial Intelligence with Hans Blumenberg","authors":"Audrey Borowski","doi":"10.53765/mm2023.167","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.53765/mm2023.167","url":null,"abstract":"In this article I show how Hans Blumenberg offers a positive but also more nuanced approach to the question of indeterminacy than current algorithmic systems, whilst offering a corrective to its potential metaphysical drifts and dangers. Much of Blumenberg’s work addresses the\u0000 same question at the heart of the digital namely how to address that which eludes conceptual capture. For Blumenberg theoretico-rational procedures will always be incomplete in addressing a radically contingent, unpredictable world. Born deficient, man also needs “life-worlds”\u0000 to orient us and shield us from the absolutism of reality. Digital life-worlds are possible to the extent, however, that they remain fictional mental constructs rather than aspire to be “literalized” and compete with reality. Deployed properly, life-worlds ‐ in which such\u0000 strategies as myth, rhetoric, pensiveness and more generally the art of detour play a crucial role and provide with the constant possibility of interruption and disruption ‐ do not make up for self-reinforcing and enclosed loops but allow for reflexibility, distance and criticality.\u0000 Instead of seeking to control reality and eliminate contingency ‐ futile tasks to begin with ‐ they offer flexible and resilient constructs that also cultivate the human realm.","PeriodicalId":38332,"journal":{"name":"Mind and Matter","volume":"10 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139630947","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2011-12-31DOI: 10.1515/transcript.9783839418000.189
Melanie Mikeš
{"title":"The Doors of Misperception","authors":"Melanie Mikeš","doi":"10.1515/transcript.9783839418000.189","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1515/transcript.9783839418000.189","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":38332,"journal":{"name":"Mind and Matter","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2011-12-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"67395011","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2011-12-31DOI: 10.14361/transcript.9783839418000.75
H. Hrachovec
This paper will set out a dualistic pattern, exemplified by (1) a neurobiological account of memory and (2) a short segment of the work of an Austrian avantgarde film-maker. This segment is chosen to simultaneously show a possible proximity as well as the presumable incompatibility of neurological and artistic approaches. The inevitable question of how those points of view relate to each other is taken up in the final section.
{"title":"Impressive. Memory, Matter and Mind","authors":"H. Hrachovec","doi":"10.14361/transcript.9783839418000.75","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.14361/transcript.9783839418000.75","url":null,"abstract":"This paper will set out a dualistic pattern, exemplified by (1) a neurobiological account of memory and (2) a short segment of the work of an Austrian avantgarde film-maker. This segment is chosen to simultaneously show a possible proximity as well as the presumable incompatibility of neurological and artistic approaches. The inevitable question of how those points of view relate to each other is taken up in the final section.","PeriodicalId":38332,"journal":{"name":"Mind and Matter","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2011-12-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"66603511","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2011-12-31DOI: 10.1515/transcript.9783839418000.99
Christian Heller
{"title":"Killing (the power of) time","authors":"Christian Heller","doi":"10.1515/transcript.9783839418000.99","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1515/transcript.9783839418000.99","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":38332,"journal":{"name":"Mind and Matter","volume":"8 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2011-12-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"67395267","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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