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 Interpretant x Somebody Something Causation Ground Figure 5. The triadic sign relationship.

Semiotic Systems Sign S z Interpretant x Mind Something Causation Ground Figure 6. A semiotic system.

Semiotic Systems Input i c o Computer Output Causation No Grounding Figure 7. An input-output system.

Communication and Convention Sign S z1 x1 x2 z2 Does x1 = x2? Figure 8. Communication situations. S stands for x1 for z1 S stands for x2 for 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 Figure 10. Basic modes of mentality. Mentality Type IType IIType III Definitioniconicindexicalsymbolic Criterion type/token recognition Classical Pavlovian conditioning Skinnerian operant conditioning

Higher Modes of Mentality Figure 11. Higher modes of mentality. Higher Mentality Type IVType V Definitiontransformationalmetamentality criticism Criterionlogical reasoning

(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. Conceptions of Consciousness

Evolution and Consciousness MechanismConsciousness (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 EvolutionCultural Evolution (1) Genes can exist inde- pendently of memes (1') Memes cannot exist independently of genes (2) One time transmission of information (concep- tion) (2 ') Multiple opportuni- ties for information trans- mission (3) Changes very slow (bound by rate of repro- duction) (3 ') Changes very fast (bound by speed of light) Figure 14. Genetic vs. cultural evolution ( Bonner ).

(4) Affect permanent properties (4') affect merely transient properties (5) Mechanisms of genetic change are Dar- winian, 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 Genetic vs. Cultural Evolution 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 IType IIType IIIType IVType V definition: iconicindexicalsymbolictransformationalmetamentality criterion: type/token recognition classical conditioning operant conditioning logical reasoningcriticism 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)