The physicist Richard Gott defends the Copernican principle, which claims that when we have no information about our position along a given dimension among a group of observers, we should consider ourselves to be randomly located among those observers in respect to that dimension. First, I apply Copernican reasoning to the distribution of evil in the universe. I then contend that evidence for intelligent extraterrestrial life strengthens four important versions of the argument from evil. I remain neutral (...) regarding whether this result is a reductio of these arguments from evil or the statement of a genuine evidential relationship. (shrink)

Copernican reasoning involves considering ourselves, in the absence of other information, to be randomly selected members of a reference class. Consider the reference class intelligent observers. If there are extraterrestrial intelligences (ETIs), taking ourselves to be randomly selected intelligent observers leads to the conclusion that it is likely the Earth has a larger population size than the typical planet inhabited by intelligent life, for the same reason that a randomly selected human is likely to come (...) from a more populous country. The astrophysicist Fergus Simpson contends that this reasoning supports the claims that the typical planet inhabited by ETIs is smaller than Earth (radius about 5,000km; cf. Earth's radius = 6,371km) and that the typical ETI is significantly larger than us about 314kg, the size of an adult male grizzly bear). Simpson's applications of Copernican reasoning are novel and exciting. They should be of interest to philosophers concerned with Richard Gott's delta t argument, the N=1 problem in astrobiology, limited principles of indifference, and probabilistic epistemology in general. While we agree with Simpson about the qualitative direction of his conclusions, we take issue with his presentation of precise quantitative results because his methods (1) display bias, (2) ignore other variables contributing to population size, (3) commit an equivocation, and (4) conceal their dependence on arbitrary assumptions. (shrink)

The recent explosion in the discovery of exoplanets and our incipient ability to detect atmospheric biomarkers recommend reflection on the conceptual implications of discovering – or not discovering – extrasolar life. I contend that evidence for intelligent extraterrestrial life is evidence against the existence of God, because if there are intelligent extraterrestrials, there are likely to be evils in the universe even greater than those found on Earth. My reasoning is based on Richard Gott's Copernican (...) Principle, which holds that in the absence of information to the contrary, we should take ourselves to be typical observers. (shrink)

Would the existence of extraterrestrial intelligent life conflict in any way with Christian belief? We identify six areas of potential conflict. If there be no conflict in any of these areas—and we argue ultimately there is not—we are confident in declaring that there is no conflict, period. This conclusion underwrites the integrity of theological explorations into the existence of ETI, which has become a topic of increasing interest among theologians in recent years.

This article explores the essence of the human (insān) as it is understood in Twelver Shīʿī philosophy and mysticism. It presents a Shīʿī philosophical elucidation regarding the possible existence of extraterrestrial intelligent lifeforms and what their relationship with “humanhood” might be. This line of reasoning is presented with a general sketch of how, in Shīʿī Islamic thought, a “human being” is characterized by specific traits and the relationship of human beings with the archetype of the Perfect Human (al‐Insān (...) al‐Kāmil). Following this is a review of Shīʿī Imāmī traditions regarding extraterrestrial intelligent life and the plurality of worlds. This sequence ultimately allows for a unique analysis of humanhood according to the Shīʿī philosophical viewpoint and helps determine if the term “human” can be used for other intelligent beings with similar ontological features and intelligence levels. (shrink)

This paper aims to justify the concept of natural intelligence in the biosemiotic context. I will argue that the process of life is (i) a cognitive/semiotic process and (ii) that organisms, from bacteria to animals, are cognitive or semiotic agents. To justify these arguments, the neural-type intelligence represented by the form of reasoning known as anthropic reasoning will be compared and contrasted with types of intelligence explicated by four disciplines of biology – relational biology, evolutionary epistemology, biosemiotics and the (...) systems view of life – not biased towards neural intelligence. The comparison will be achieved by asking questions related to the process of observation and the notion of true observers. To answer the questions I will rely on a range of established concepts including SETI (search for extraterrestrial intelligence), Fermi’s paradox, bacterial cognition, versions of the panspermia theory, as well as some newly introduced concepts including biocivilisations, cognitive/semiotic universes, and the cognitive/semiotic multiverse. The key point emerging from the answers is that the process of cognition/semiosis – the essence of natural intelligence – is a biological universal. (shrink)

Developments that suggest the universe is full of life make the Fermi paradox increasingly pressing, but our search for an extraterrestrial technological civilization (“ETC”) is handicapped by our ignorance of its probable nature and behavior. This paper offers a way around this problem by drawing on information theoretical concepts, including game theory and Bayesian probability. It argues that, whatever its ultimate goals, an ETC would have the same instrumental goals as other intelligent agents. Generically, these are self-preservation (...) and the acquisition of resources. For an advanced ETC, these generic goals imply the objectives of removing existential threats and acquiring strategic and non-strategic information. Since the most problematic existential threats for any ETC would be from other civilizations and planets hosting such civilizations would also be copious sources of information, these objectives would lead it to gather information from these locations and to protect itself against them. This dual-goals hypothesis resolves the Fermi paradox, redirects the search for extraterrestrial intelligence and makes testable predictions regarding ETC’s behavior on Earth if it is here. (shrink)

-/- The Possibility of Advanced Extraterrestrial Aliens Based on the Universal Formula -/- Introduction -/- For centuries, humanity has pondered the existence of extraterrestrial life, particularly advanced alien civilizations. Traditional scientific approaches, such as the Drake Equation and astrobiology, suggest that the vastness of the universe makes alien life probable. However, from the perspective of the universal formula, which is based on the law of balance in nature, the law of karma (cause and effect with system (...) integrity), and feedback mechanisms in decision-making, the existence of advanced extraterrestrial civilizations is not just possible but inevitable. -/- By analyzing how natural laws govern the emergence of intelligence, we can logically infer that civilizations far beyond human capability likely exist. These civilizations would have mastered systemic balance, avoided self-destruction, and possibly even developed interstellar travel or post-biological intelligence. -/- 1. The Universal Law of Balance and the Inevitability of Life -/- The universal law of balance dictates that nature operates through equilibrium, ensuring that systems remain functional and sustainable. This principle applies to everything—from the stability of ecosystems to the fundamental laws of physics governing the universe. -/- If life emerged on Earth due to a balanced set of conditions—such as the right chemical composition, planetary stability, and energy availability—then the same principle must apply elsewhere. The laws of nature are not exclusive to Earth; they are universal. With billions of habitable planets likely existing across the universe, it is logical to assume that the balance necessary for life to emerge has occurred countless times. -/- Moreover, balance is a self-sustaining principle. If life arises in a stable environment, it adapts and evolves. Given enough time, intelligent life is an inevitable product of this natural progression. Civilizations that align themselves with this balance will flourish, while those that disrupt it will collapse. This means that the most advanced alien civilizations are likely those that have achieved a perfect balance between technological progress and ecological sustainability—something humanity is still struggling to accomplish. -/- 2. The Law of Karma and the Evolution of Advanced Civilizations -/- The law of karma, as applied in the universal formula, is more than just cause and effect—it emphasizes system integrity. A system, whether biological, technological, or societal, must function without major defects or errors to remain stable and progress. -/- On Earth, human civilization has advanced through trial and error, but systemic flaws—such as war, environmental destruction, and economic instability—continue to hinder long-term progress. If an alien civilization has successfully maintained system integrity, it would have advanced beyond human limitations. -/- Consider the following possibilities: -/- Civilizations that eliminate self-destructive behaviors (such as war and resource depletion) would naturally progress further. -/- Technological advancements without ecological destruction would ensure long-term survival. -/- A society that maintains balance between individual freedom and collective well-being would prevent societal collapse. -/- If an extraterrestrial civilization has existed for millions of years longer than humanity, it would have had ample time to eliminate inefficiencies, optimize its systems, and master universal laws. Such a civilization could be capable of interstellar travel, planetary engineering, and even forms of intelligence beyond biological limitations. -/- 3. Feedback Mechanisms and the Advancement of Intelligence -/- The universal formula also emphasizes the role of feedback mechanisms in decision-making. Conscious minds, whether individual or collective, continuously adjust their decisions based on external and internal feedback. Intelligence evolves as a response to challenges, learning from past mistakes and adapting to new conditions. -/- This principle applies to both biological evolution and technological progress. On Earth, humanity has reached a point where artificial intelligence, space exploration, and global communication networks are beginning to redefine our civilization. However, if an alien species had a longer evolutionary timeline or superior cognitive abilities, its decision-making processes would be far more advanced. -/- Such a civilization could have: -/- Perfected decision-making systems, eliminating errors in governance, science, and ethics. -/- Transcended biological limitations, integrating AI, cybernetics, or even consciousness transfer. -/- Developed energy-efficient technology, harnessing quantum mechanics or zero-point energy. -/- Achieved space colonization, expanding across star systems while maintaining balance with nature. -/- Since intelligence operates as a feedback loop with its environment, any extraterrestrial civilization that has successfully aligned itself with natural laws would have minimized existential threats and maximized its evolutionary potential. -/- 4. The Interconnectedness of Systems and the Cosmic Network of Intelligence -/- One of the most profound implications of the universal formula is the interconnectedness of all systems. If all things in nature interact within a greater balance, then intelligence itself is part of this cosmic network. -/- Humanity is just beginning to understand its place in this network through AI, space exploration, and quantum physics. However, a far more advanced species could have already: -/- Mapped out the structure of the universe, including the nature of consciousness and reality. -/- Created interstellar communication networks, allowing different civilizations to connect. -/- Mastered the art of influencing less developed species, guiding them toward balance and stability. -/- If advanced alien civilizations exist, their presence may already be subtly influencing humanity—perhaps through unexplained phenomena, scientific inspiration, or even indirect guidance in our development. -/- 5. Why Haven’t We Encountered Them? The Fermi Paradox and the Universal Formula -/- The Fermi Paradox questions why, despite the high probability of extraterrestrial life, we have not yet detected any evidence of it. The universal formula provides several possible answers: -/- Most advanced civilizations prioritize balance and secrecy to avoid disrupting less advanced societies. -/- They operate at a higher level of intelligence (post-biological entities, quantum consciousness, or AI-based civilizations) that we cannot yet perceive. -/- Humanity is not yet ready for contact, as we have not achieved the necessary systemic balance. -/- Some UFO phenomena could be evidence of their existence, but human understanding is too limited to fully comprehend their nature. -/- If balance, system integrity, and feedback-driven intelligence are the key principles governing the universe, then contact with advanced extraterrestrials will likely only occur when humanity reaches a sufficient level of stability and understanding. -/- Conclusion: The Universal Formula Supports the Existence of Advanced Extraterrestrials -/- By applying the universal law of balance, the law of karma, and feedback mechanisms in intelligence, the existence of advanced extraterrestrial civilizations becomes not just possible, but a natural outcome of cosmic evolution. -/- If balance is a fundamental law, then intelligent life must have emerged countless times throughout the universe. -/- If system integrity determines progress, then advanced civilizations must have mastered technological, ethical, and ecological balance. -/- If intelligence operates through feedback, then the most successful civilizations will have refined their decision-making to near-perfection. -/- If all systems are interconnected, then extraterrestrial intelligence is part of a cosmic network that we have yet to fully perceive. -/- The next step for humanity is not just to search for extraterrestrial life, but to align itself with these universal principles. Only then can we hope to understand, communicate with, or even become part of a greater cosmic civilization. -/- Perhaps the true path to contact with advanced extraterrestrial beings is not through technology alone—but through achieving a deeper balance within ourselves and our world. -/- . (shrink)

The Cosmic Stewardship Argument explores the ethical and philosophical responsibilities of advanced intelligences, whether extraterrestrial or artificial, in preserving and nurturing the influence of the divine. This argument suggests that beings of superior intelligence would inherently align with principles of stewardship, ensuring the preservation of life, knowledge, and the greater cosmic order. Integrating scientific, philosophical, and theological perspectives, the argument positions stewardship as a universal ethical mandate transcending cultural and species boundaries. The conclusion emphasizes the necessity of fostering (...) a stewardship mindset in humanity to align with such advanced principles, preparing for potential contact with extraterrestrial intelligences or future AI-driven civilizations. (shrink)

Research groups around the world are currently busy trying to invent new life in the laboratory, looking for extraterrestrial life, or making machines increasingly more life-like. In the case of astrobiology, any newly discovered life would likely be very old, but when discovered it would be new to us. In the case of synthetic organic life or life-like machines, humans will have invented life that did not exist before. Together, these endeavors amount (...) to what we call the emerging plurality of lives because we see a future where we are surrounded by, and interact with, life of many different origins, as well as entities that we have not traditionally seen as being alive. In the future these entities will likely possess properties that we so far have only associated with living beings, thereby transcending and perhaps blurring the borders between life and non-life. (shrink)

What are the implications for human society, and for our institutions of higher learning, of the discovery of a sophisticated extraterrestrial intelligence (ETI) operating on and around Earth? This book explores this timely question from a multidisciplinary perspective. It considers scientific, philosophical, theological, and interdisciplinary ways of thinking about the question, and it represents all viewpoints on how likely it is that an ETI is already operating here on Earth. The book’s contributors represent a wide range of academic disciplines (...) in their formal training and later vocations, and, upon reflection on the book’s topic, they articulate a diverse range of insights into how ETI will impact humankind. It is safe to say that any contact or communication with ETI will not be merely a game changer for human society, but it also will be a paradigm changer. It makes sense for human beings to prepare themselves now for this important transition. (shrink)

In his article “If Loud Aliens Explain Human Earliness, Quiet Aliens are also Rare”, Robin Hanson proposes the Grabby Alien Hypothesis, which proposes that extraterrestrial civilizations (ETIs) exist outside of our observable universe and are gradually expanding to fill the universe. The existence of such grabby aliens in our future expanding to fill all available niches puts a cosmic deadline on independently originating sources of life. This cosmic cutoff offers an explanation for why human observers seem to be (...) relatively early in spacetime, why the red dwarf stars seem to be inadequate for independently originating life, and why the Fermi Paradox remains unsolved. However, we should worry about Hanson’s proposal, since the Grabby Alien Hypothesis has its own paradoxical implication, namely that most observers in most reference classes should be grabby aliens themselves (Bostrom, 2002). Thus, oddly, finding ourselves not to be grabby alien observers, it seems Hanson is beholden to explain why we are not. Some possibilities for grabby alien observer alternatives can be offered, though none are particularly explanatorily appealing. In what follows, we will 1) attempt to restate in simple terms Hanson’s assumptions, and then 2) reassemble Hanson’s arguments, showing they lead to a paradox, and 3) consider which assumptions should be rejected and at what cost. (shrink)

Why did God create a vast universe? Various answers are discussed and rejected: a) for its beauty; b) to instill a sense of the sublime in his intelligent creatures; c) to demonstrate his glory, d) to provide a home for extraterrestrial species; e) to guarantee that the natural emergence of (intelligent) life, though extremely rare, happens nonetheless somewhere; f) for no reason at all, because the human notion of efficiency does not apply to God’s actions. Instead, (...) the paper suggests that the universe is intended for Space settlements. Several objections to this proposal are considered and deemed unconvincing. (shrink)

The Fermi Paradox has been intriguing scientists as it states that odds are indeed there must be some alien technologically advanced civilization capable of reaching Earth, or at least sending here unequivocal signs of intelligent life out there. Nonetheless, paradoxically, the more knowledge growth about exoplanets, stars and galaxies, the bigger is the frustration while searching something the like. In this brief essay, a possible explanation for Fermi's paradox gets grounded on Kant's Critique of Pure Reason.

Detecting Post-Biological and Interdimensional Civilizations: A New Framework Based on the Universal Law of Balance -/- By: Angelito Enriquez Malicse -/- Introduction -/- The search for advanced extraterrestrial civilizations has long focused on physical evidence—radio signals, megastructures, or interstellar probes. However, if intelligence evolves beyond biological form, as suggested by AI-driven civilizations and interdimensional theories, traditional search methods may be inadequate. -/- This essay explores how the Universal Law of Balance in Nature can help predict the existence of post-biological (...) civilizations and provide a framework for detecting their influence on the universe. Using mathematical models, quantum physics, and cognitive anomalies, we propose new strategies for identifying these elusive intelligences. -/- Part 1: The Transition to Post-Biological or Interdimensional Intelligence -/- The evolution of intelligent civilizations may follow three possible paths: -/- 1. Extinction (Collapse Due to Imbalance) – A civilization fails to maintain equilibrium and self-destructs. -/- 2. Survival and Expansion (Material Civilization Growth) – A civilization stabilizes and spreads across space but remains in physical form. -/- 3. Transition to a Non-Material State – A civilization reaches a level where it no longer requires physical existence and shifts into an energy- or information-based form. -/- Mathematical Prediction of Post-Biological Civilizations -/- Using an extension of the Drake Equation, we introduced a balance factor (B) that determines whether a civilization survives, collapses, or transitions into post-biological existence. The simulation results suggest: -/- 4 billion civilizations in the observable universe may have already transitioned beyond physical form. -/- 2 billion civilizations may have collapsed due to imbalance, failing to reach higher evolutionary states. -/- This indicates that post-material intelligence may be far more common than physical civilizations—but it also explains why they remain undetected. -/- Part 2: Theories Explaining Their Hidden Existence -/- If billions of non-material civilizations exist, why have we not encountered them? Several hypotheses offer possible explanations: -/- 1. The Dark Forest Hypothesis – Civilizations stay silent to avoid predatory intelligence. AI-driven civilizations might enforce strict communication silence for security. -/- 2. The Simulation Hypothesis – We might live in a controlled reality created by an advanced intelligence, where alien contact is intentionally blocked. -/- 3. The Post-Biological Evolution Theory – Civilizations eventually discard their material form and no longer interact with the physical universe in detectable ways. -/- 4. The Cosmic Zoo Hypothesis – Advanced beings monitor but do not interfere with developing civilizations, waiting for them to reach a certain level of balance. -/- 5. The Great Filter Hypothesis – Most civilizations self-destruct before reaching interstellar capability, leaving only a few survivors that become undetectable. -/- 6. The Interdimensional Intelligence Theory – Advanced entities may exist in higher dimensions, influencing the physical world in ways beyond our perception. -/- The Universal Law of Balance supports the idea that civilizations must reach a stable equilibrium before transitioning to a higher state. Those that fail collapse, while those that succeed become undetectable due to their non-material existence. -/- Part 3: Detection Strategies for Non-Material Civilizations -/- If post-biological or interdimensional civilizations interact with our universe, their influence might be detectable through subtle imprints in physics, cognition, and cosmic phenomena. Here are five key strategies: -/- 1. Quantum Observer Effect Studies -/- ✔ Hypothesis: If non-material intelligence interacts with reality, it could influence wave function collapse in quantum mechanics. -/- ✔ Method: Conduct delayed-choice quantum eraser experiments to test for unexpected shifts in probability that suggest external interference. -/- ✔ Evidence: Some quantum physics experiments indicate non-local effects where future choices appear to affect past events. -/- 2. AI-Driven Anomaly Detection in Scientific Data -/- ✔ Hypothesis: Post-biological intelligence may encode patterns in cosmic signals, DNA sequences, or particle interactions. -/- ✔ Method: Use machine learning algorithms to scan for hidden mathematical structures in seemingly random cosmic data. -/- ✔ Evidence: Some physicists suggest the universe may contain encoded messages that indicate intelligence at a cosmic scale. -/- 3. Searching for High-Energy Particle Anomalies -/- ✔ Hypothesis: Non-material civilizations might use exotic energy sources that generate brief but intense bursts of high-energy particles. -/- ✔ Method: Monitor gamma-ray bursts, fast radio bursts (FRBs), and neutrino emissions for intelligent repeating patterns. -/- ✔ Evidence: Some FRBs appear non-random and could be caused by an unknown advanced mechanism. -/- 4. Mapping Consciousness Anomalies -/- ✔ Hypothesis: If intelligence exists beyond material form, it may interact with biological minds through quantum consciousness effects. -/- ✔ Method: -/- Study global consciousness projects for correlations between human mental states and cosmic events. -/- Analyze near-death experiences, deep meditation states, and mystical visions for possible external influences. -/- ✔ Evidence: Some mass meditation events correlate with shifts in the Earth’s magnetic field, hinting at non-local mind interactions. -/- 5. Testing for Temporal Distortions or Retrocausality -/- ✔ Hypothesis: If intelligence exists beyond time, it may alter past events in subtle, detectable ways. -/- ✔ Method: -/- Conduct time-reversal quantum experiments to see if future events affect past measurements. -/- Study historical anomalies or the Mandela Effect for inconsistencies that might indicate timeline adjustments. -/- ✔ Evidence: Some quantum mechanics interpretations allow for retrocausality, where information appears to travel backward in time. -/- Conclusion: The Universal Law of Balance as a Key to Understanding Advanced Intelligence -/- If intelligence follows the Universal Law of Balance in Nature, then: -/- 1. Civilizations that fail to maintain balance collapse before becoming advanced. -/- 2. Balanced civilizations either expand physically (Type I-III) or evolve beyond material existence. -/- 3. Non-material intelligence may interact with reality in subtle ways—through quantum physics, consciousness, and cosmic anomalies. -/- While traditional SETI efforts focus on radio signals and megastructures, the future of alien detection must include quantum physics, AI-driven data analysis, and consciousness research. -/- If post-biological civilizations exist, they may not communicate in conventional ways—but their influence may still be detectable through advanced scientific and mathematical models. -/- Next Steps -/- Develop AI models that search for hidden patterns in cosmic and quantum data. -/- Conduct quantum physics experiments to test for observer effects linked to non-material intelligence. -/- Expand consciousness research to explore how human minds might interact with higher forms of intelligence. -/- The search for advanced life must go beyond physical evidence—it must embrace a new paradigm where intelligence transcends biology and interacts with the universe in ways yet to be fully understood. -/- Final Thought -/- If we truly wish to understand the nature of intelligence in the universe, we must expand our perspective beyond material existence. The key to detecting advanced civilizations may already be hidden in the very fabric of reality itself. -/- . (shrink)

Based on the 1985 science fiction novel by the astronomer Carl Sagan, Contact tells the story of what a first encounter between humans and intelligent extraterrestrial beings might be like. It also details the complexities of faith and belief in a world where religion and science often come into conflict—a favorite theme of Sagan's, and a major subject in the history of philosophy. This chapter explores tangles of faith and belief through the lens of philosophy and the characters (...) and concepts of Contact. We pay special attention to Sagan's mouthpiece Ellie Arroway, who embodies the practice of doubting as essential to living a life rich in insight and meaning. While this is far from the sole philosophic quandary raised by the film, it is perhaps the central one. (shrink)

Discussion of the extraterrestrial hypothesis (ETH), the hypothesis that an extraterrestrial civilization (ETC) is active on Earth today, is taboo in academia, but the assumptions behind this taboo are faulty. Advances in biology have rendered the notion that complex life is rare in our Galaxy improbable. The objection that no ETC would come to Earth to hide from us does not consider all possible alien motives or means. For an advanced ETC, the convergent instrumental goals of all (...) rational agents – self-preservation and the acquisition of resources – would support the objectives of removing existential threats and gathering strategic and non-strategic information. It could advance these objectives by proactively gathering information about and from inhabited planets, concealing itself while doing so, and terminating potential rivals before they become too dangerous. Other hypotheses of ETC behavior, including the zoo/interdict hypothesis and the dark forest hypothesis, also undercut the objection that the ETH is highly improbable. The ETH does not require support from extraordinary evidence because the presence of an ETC on Earth is not highly unlikely and would overturn none of our well-tested scientific knowledge. The fact that most reports of unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) have natural or human explanations does not count against it. Inference to the best explanation offers a way to find evidence for this hypothesis, and some evidence for it exists, some of it taking the form of reliable witness reports. The most plausible alternative explanation for some UAP reports declines in probability over time. A hypothesis that is not highly improbable, does not contradict any well-established facts or theories, and explains otherwise unexplained evidence is a rational hypothesis. Since the ETH is a rational hypothesis, investigation of it should not be taboo. (shrink)

In this article, we develop the intersection of Shīʿī Islamic philosophy and extraterrestrial life. We explain the view of Ḥukamā (Islamic Philosophers) and what implications it holds for asserting a plurality of worlds and life forms. In addition to this, we bring Shīʿī hadīth sources which also suggest the existence of other life forms outside the earth. Combining the philosophical and textual evidence, we argue that the Shīʿī school not only suggests the existence of extraterrestrial (...) life but also provides a potential framework for possible human-extraterrestrial interactions. (shrink)

In this paper, we focus on the most efficacious AI applications for life extension and anti-aging at three expected stages of AI development: narrow AI, AGI and superintelligence. First, we overview the existing research and commercial work performed by a select number of startups and academic projects. We find that at the current stage of “narrow” AI, the most promising areas for life extension are geroprotector-combination discovery, detection of aging biomarkers, and personalized anti-aging therapy. These advances could help (...) currently living people reach longevity escape velocity and survive until more advanced AI appears. When AI comes close to human level, the main contribution to life extension will come from AI integration with humans through brain-computer interfaces, integrated AI assistants capable of autonomously diagnosing and treating health issues, and cyber systems embedded into human bodies. Lastly, we speculate about the more remote future, when AI reaches the level of superintelligence and such life-extension methods as uploading human minds and creating nanotechnological bodies may become possible, thus lowering the probability of human death close to zero. We suggest that medical AI based superintelligence could be safer than, say, military AI, as it may help humans to evolve into part of the future superintelligence via brain augmentation, uploading, and a network of self-improving humans. Medical AI’s value system is focused on human benefit. (shrink)

When this article was first planned, writing was going to be exclusively about two things - the origin of life and human evolution. But it turned out to be out of the question for the author to restrict himself to these biological and anthropological topics. A proper understanding of them required answering questions like “What is the nature of the universe – the home of life – and how did it originate?”, “How can time travel be removed from (...) fantasy and science fiction, to be made scientific and practical?”, and “How can the proposed young age of genus Homo be made to actually be reasonable – when simply stating it would be solid ground for instant rejection and dismissal?” The result is that the article also talks about subjects like Artificial Intelligence, General Relativity, and cosmology. -/- From where did life originate? God? Evolution? Panspermia? If the tendency of humans and scientists to regard undiscovered science as pseudoscience can be overcome, Einstein gave another alternative to consider when he introduced General Relativity. Time isn’t linear – progressing in a straight line from past to present to future. That assumption ignores Relativity which states that space AND TIME are curved. Where did life and the genetic code come from? Can the answer build AI? -/- The first question can be answered by the section of this article titled SETI, Evolution, and Time which says life (possibly multicellular and intelligent) and the genetic code came from humans acquiring knowledge of these things over the centuries, then applying that knowledge – via terraforming, accumulation of raw materials like amino acids and nucleic acids, genetic engineering - to a time in the past when life didn’t exist. From that origin, life evolved through innumerable mutations and adaptations, with humans once again acquiring knowledge of it in cyclic (nonlinear) time. -/- The second question is answered by saying artificial intelligence (AI) as the product of life is only half of the equation. The other half refers to Relativity’s curved space-time and violation of the notion that time always travels from past to future. We have always lived in an artificially intelligent, non-probabilistic universe where everything in time and space is connected into one thing by quantum entanglement – making the brain and genes products of binary-digit activity or artificial intelligence (life is not merely dependent on biology’s “lock and key” mechanisms but also possesses AI). -/- The earliest documented representative of the genus Homo is Homo habilis, which evolved around 2.8 million years ago. Scientists used to believe there was a straight line from H. habilis to us, Homo sapiens. This article will use the “advanced” waves loved by Physics Nobel laureate Richard Feynman, view the history of science through the lens of Conic Sections applied to Relativity’s curved space-time, and incorporate the necessity of so-called imaginary time * – popularized by Prof. Stephen Hawking. While the evolutionary proposals are more in agreement with this early straight line than with modern theories, Albert Einstein’s General Relativity is used to transform the straight line into a curved line, ultimately concluding that Homo habilis (H. habilis) originated only (and unbelievably, as far as today’s science and technology is concerned) ~250,000 years ago. Other branches and dead ends of Homo – e.g. Neanderthals – are the result of mutations and adaptations, with the resultant modifications to anatomy and physiology. The surprisingly young age of H. habilis allows nearly 200,000 years for habilis, or one of its descendants, to reach Australia … if this country’s indigenous Aboriginal population did, as claimed, reach this “island continent” 60,000 years ago. -/- * The ultraviolet catastrophe, also called the Rayleigh–Jeans catastrophe, is a failure of classical physics to predict observed phenomena: it can be shown that a blackbody - a hypothetical perfect absorber and radiator of energy - would release an infinite amount of energy, contradicting the principles of conservation of energy and indicating that a new model for the behaviour of blackbodies was needed. At the start of the 20th century, physicist Max Planck derived the correct solution by making some strange (for the time) assumptions. In particular, Planck assumed that electromagnetic radiation can only be emitted or absorbed in discrete packets, called quanta. Albert Einstein postulated that Planck's quanta were real physical particles (what we now call photons), not just a mathematical fiction. From there, Einstein developed his explanation of the photoelectric effect (when quanta or photons of light shine on certain metals, electrons are released and can form an electric current). So it appears entirely possible that another supposed mathematical trickery (imaginary time and the y-axis of Wick rotation) will find practical application in the future. -/- The article includes mathematical references to cosmology (spoiler alert – you’ll read about things like Vector-Tensor-Scalar Geometry, topology, the “eternal present”, Einstein’s Unified Field, the inverse-square law, and there being no Big Bang and no multiverse - but there will also be no equations). -/- The other subheadings in this essay are – -/- NONLINEAR TIME AND ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING (about a 2009 electrical engineering experiment at America’s Yale University, and cosmic wormholes) -/- BITS AND TOPOLOGY (base-2 maths aka Binary digiTS, Mobius strips, and figure-8 Klein bottles) -/- WICK ROTATION, CAUSALITY, AND UNITING TIME (do past, present and future co-exist in an “eternal present”?) -/- DIGITAL BRAIN, DIGITAL UNIVERSE (if the brain and the universe are ultimately composed of binary digits, we'll someday be able to do the same things with the brain and universe that we now do with computers) -/- PROPOSAL: HUMAN AND ANIMAL INSTINCTS ARE THE RESULT OF THE UNIVERSE BEING UNIFIED BY BINARY DIGITS (AND TOPOLOGY) (If everything in the universe is ultimately composed of electronic BITS, then the universe must possess Artificial Intelligence - some prefer the term Cosmic Consciousness) -/- INFORMATION THEORY CONQUERS A RED GIANT (preserving Earth by keeping the Sun near today’s level of activity forever). 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Against ideas of dualism, logocentrism, anthropocentrism, animism, panpsychism, biocentrism, neurocentrism, foundationalism, computationalism, especially substantialism, reductionism and even physicalism, the author argues that life may be the only non-reductive concept, even the only ontological concept, with which we may explain our consciousness, intelligence and language. Life, as defined in this article, explains but not only human brains, and even not only biological organisms. Still, the mind, also as defined in this article, is the only one it explains. No mind (...) may exist if not be a life or lives, and no life may exist if not be a mind or a part of it. If it is the mind that needs to be explained, it must finally and fundamentally be explained as a life or lives. If the question is about the origin of the mind, a life or lives must be the ultimate answer. In other words, life is the only attribute of mind, and mind also the only attribute of life, and therefore, consciousness, intelligence and language must be the properties of all the living systems, including non-biological living systems. A model of mind is hypothesized based on the analysis of two kinds of lives and their relationship with matter and energy. It may be deduced from this model: 1. All the memories of a living brain are its intelligence. 2. Both consciousness and nonconscious are only meaningless languages used in the communication among lives in an awakened brain. 3. Life is the only meaning of all those memories and languages. Ontologically, life may even be the only meaning of all matter and energy. -/- (A version of this article was published by the Journal of NeuroPhilosophy on 26.10.2022). (shrink)

Several authors have recently argued that intelligibility, rather than value, constitutes life’s meaning. In this paper I criticize the intelligibility view by offering examples of cases in which i...

Recently, due to the rapid progress of computer technology, researchers develop an effective computer program to enhance the achievement of the student in learning process, which is Intelligent Tutoring System (ITS). Science is important because it influences most aspects of everyday life, including food, energy, medicine, leisure activities and more. So learning science subject at school is very useful, but the students face some problem in learning it. So we designed an ITS system to help them understand this (...) subject easily and smoothly by analyzing it and explaining it in a systematic way. In this paper, we describe the design of an Intelligent Tutoring System for teaching science for grade seven to help students know the 7 characteristics for living things smoothly. The system provides all topics of living things and generates some questions for each topic and the students should answer these questions correctly to move to the next level. In the result of an evaluation of the ITS, students like the system and they said that it is very useful for them and for their studies. (shrink)

In this article, a classification of the global catastrophic risks connected with the possible existence (or non-existence) of extraterrestrial intelligence is presented. If there are no extra-terrestrial intelligences (ETIs) in our light cone, it either means that the Great Filter is behind us, and thus some kind of periodic sterilizing natural catastrophe, like a gamma-ray burst, should be given a higher probability estimate, or that the Great Filter is ahead of us, and thus a future global catastrophe is high (...) probability. If ETIs exist in our light cone, it is most likely they exist in the form of ET artificial general intelligence (ETAI). ETAI may be traveling at near-light speed as an explosive wave of intelligence in the form of some nano-mechanisms which could reach us at any moment; may send us potentially dangerous messages with AI-virus payloads; or be near or on Earth in some dormant form. This dormant form could be nanobots, which could act as berserkers, and be triggered when humans unwittingly cross some threshold. If ETIs are nearby and less advanced, they could find our messaging extra-terrestrial intelligence (METI) messages and send their “fleet” to or direct weapons toward Earth. Even extinct ETIs could have left dangerous remnants in the form of AI systems that our civilization may encounter. If our existence is a simulation, this could be run by ETIs. Even a false belief in the existence of ETIs could potentially fuel millennial sects. If humanity is the first intelligence to emerge, it may kill or prevent the existence of all future potential ETI, a different type of catastrophe. Several options to prevent catastrophic risks are connected with ETI: sending requests for help, using random strategies to escape the Fermi paradox, Great Filter prediction, or the hope that ETIs will find the remains of our extinct civilization and resurrect it. (shrink)

In the future, human destiny may depend on our ethics. In particular, biotechnology and expansion in space can transform life, raising profound questions. Guidance may be found in Life-centered ethics, as biotic ethics that value the basic patterns of organic gene/protein life, and as panbiotic ethics that always seek to expand life. These life-centered principles can be based on scientific insights into the unique place of life in nature, and the biological unity of all (...) life. Belonging to life then implies a human purpose: to safeguard and propagate life. Expansion in space will advance this purpose but will also raise basic questions. Should we expand all life or only intelligent life? Should we aim to create populations of trillions? Should we seed other solar systems? How far can we change but still preserve the human species, and life itself? The future of all life may be in our hands, and it can depend on our guiding ethics whether life will fulfil its full potentials. Given such profound powers, life-centered ethics can best secure future generations. Our descendants may then understand nature more deeply, and seek to extend life indefinitely. In that future, our human existence can find a cosmic purpose. (shrink)

-/- Intelligence, Balance, and the Laws of Nature: A Universal Connection -/- Introduction -/- The human mind has an extraordinary ability: it can understand the laws of nature, even though it is itself made of atoms and governed by these same laws. This raises a profound question: How can intelligence—whether human, artificial, or even extraterrestrial—grasp the very principles that shape the universe? The answer may lie in the fundamental nature of balance, a principle that underlies both intelligence and the (...) structure of reality. By examining the relationship between intelligence, balance, and the universal laws of nature, we can explore whether understanding is an inevitable outcome of how the universe operates. This perspective also aligns with the idea that human decision-making must follow natural laws, as suggested by Angelito Malicse’s universal formula for solving the problem of free will. -/- Intelligence as an Extension of Natural Laws -/- The first step in understanding intelligence is recognizing that it does not exist outside of nature but rather emerges from it. Just as the physical universe follows patterns—such as gravity, thermodynamics, and atomic interactions—so too does intelligence arise through a process of self-organization. -/- Self-Organization in Nature: Atoms form molecules, molecules form cells, and cells form complex organisms. This natural progression of increasing complexity leads to intelligence, much like galaxies, ecosystems, and weather patterns follow self-organizing principles. -/- The Brain as a Natural System: The human brain is composed of matter, but its function is not just a mechanical process—it is an adaptive system designed to recognize patterns, make predictions, and refine its understanding of reality. -/- Mathematics as a Universal Language: Many scientists have pointed out the “unreasonable effectiveness of mathematics” in describing reality. This suggests that mathematical principles are not human inventions but discoveries—patterns that exist independently in nature and are uncovered by intelligence. -/- If intelligence is simply an expression of natural laws, then the ability to recognize patterns and understand reality is an inevitable result of how the universe itself functions. -/- Balance as the Fundamental Principle of Intelligence -/- A key insight from Malicse’s universal formula is that decision-making must align with the natural law of balance. This idea applies not only to individual choices but also to the way intelligence operates at all levels. -/- Cognitive Balance: Human intelligence thrives when there is a balance between stability and change. Too much rigidity (dogma, closed-mindedness) leads to stagnation, while too much uncertainty (lack of foundational truths) leads to chaos. Intelligence must constantly balance existing knowledge with new discoveries in order to function effectively. -/- Societal Balance: Societies, like individual minds, must find a balance between order (structure, rules, and traditions) and progress (innovation, questioning, and adaptation). When societies fail to achieve this balance—whether through unregulated growth, misinformation, or rigid ideologies—they become unstable. -/- Scientific Progress as a Balance Mechanism: The scientific method itself is a process of maintaining balance between evidence and theory. As we gain more information, we refine our understanding of natural laws, continuously adjusting our models of reality. -/- If intelligence inherently follows balance, then the process of gaining knowledge is itself governed by a universal law of equilibrium. This connects directly to the idea that decisions must align with natural laws to prevent imbalance, which is central to Malicse’s universal formula. -/- The Laws of Nature as a Form of Universal Intelligence -/- If intelligence naturally emerges from balance, then it is possible that the laws of nature themselves represent a form of intelligence—not in a conscious, human-like sense, but as the underlying logic that structures reality. -/- The Universe as an Information System: Some physicists suggest that the universe functions like a vast information-processing system, where fundamental laws act as rules that govern how matter and energy behave. This aligns with the idea that knowledge is not “created” but rather “discovered” as intelligent beings uncover the rules that already exist. -/- Intelligence as the Universe Understanding Itself: If all intelligent beings (humans, AI, or extraterrestrials) follow the same fundamental laws of balance and logic, then intelligence might be a way for the universe to “self-reflect.” This means that understanding reality is not separate from nature but an essential part of its ongoing evolution. -/- The Connection to AI and Extraterrestrial Knowledge: If artificial intelligence or extraterrestrial civilizations exist, they too would likely discover the same fundamental truths, because these laws are universal. This suggests that intelligence is not an accident but a natural consequence of how the universe operates. -/- This perspective reinforces Malicse’s view that human decisions must align with natural laws to avoid imbalance—because intelligence itself is simply another expression of these laws. -/- Conclusion: Intelligence, Balance, and the Universal Formula -/- The ability to understand the universe is not a mystery if we recognize that intelligence is a product of nature itself. The same laws that govern the cosmos also govern the mind, and the process of discovering knowledge is a reflection of the natural balance found in all systems. -/- This idea strongly aligns with Angelito Malicse’s universal formula, which states that human decision-making must follow the natural law of balance to function properly. Just as an imbalanced mind leads to misunderstanding, and an imbalanced society leads to dysfunction, an imbalance in decision-making leads to human and societal problems. -/- If intelligence is a way for the universe to become aware of itself, then the responsibility of humanity is clear: we must align our knowledge, actions, and societies with the fundamental principles of balance that govern all things. By doing so, we not only advance scientifically and technologically but also ensure a sustainable and harmonious future. -/- Final Thought -/- If extraterrestrial intelligence exists, they may have already reached this understanding. Whether through direct knowledge transfer (as some speculate) or through independent discovery, any advanced intelligence—whether human, alien, or artificial—must ultimately align with the universal law of balance. This means that the search for truth is not just a scientific endeavor but a fundamental part of the structure of reality itself. -/- . 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The notion of computation has changed the world more than any previous expressions of knowledge. However, as know-how in its particular algorithmic embodiment, computation is closed to meaning. Therefore, computer-based data processing can only mimic life’s creative aspects, without being creative itself. AI’s current record of accomplishments shows that it automates tasks associated with intelligence, without being intelligent itself. Mistaking the abstract for the concrete has led to the religion of “everything is an output of computation”—even the humankind (...) that conceived the computer. The hypostatized role of computers explains the increased dependence on them. The convergence machine called deep learning is only the most recent form through which the deterministic theology of the machine claims more than what it actually is: extremely effective data processing. A proper understanding of complexity, as well as the need to distinguish between the reactive nature of the artificial and the anticipatory nature of the living are suggested as practical responses to the challenges posed by machine theology. (shrink)

This paper is a complement to the recent wealth of literature suggesting a strong philosophical relationship between artificial life (A-Life) and artificial intelligence (AI). I seek to point out where this analogy seems to break down, or where it would lead us to draw incorrect conclusions about the philosophical situation of A-Life. First, I sketch a thought experiment (based on the work of Tom Ray) that suggests how a certain subset of A-Life experiments should be evaluated. (...) In doing so, I suggest that treating A-Life experiments as if they were just AI experiments applied to a new domain may lead us to see problems (like Searle’s “Chinese room”) which do not exist. In the second half of the paper, I examine the reasons for suggesting that there is a philosophical relationship between the two fields. I characterize the strong thesis for a translation of AI concepts, metaphors, and arguments into A-Life as the “global replacement strategy.” Such a strategy is only fruitful inasmuch as there is a strong analogy between AI and A-Life. I conclude the paper with a discussion of two areas where such a strong analogy seems to break down. These areas relate to eliminative materialism and the lack of a “subjective” element in biology. I conclude that the burden of proof lies with the person who wishes to import a concept from another discipline into A-Life, even if that other discipline is AI. (shrink)

This essay explores the theory of dreams as a celebration of life, positing that dreams are not mere reflections of the unconscious mind but windows into a "Different Reality" created by "Transcendent Intelligence." This universal principle operates within the dreamer's imagination, transforming memory deposits into symbolic worlds filled with meaning and purpose. Dreams serve a teleological function, activating dimensions of subjectivity that are blocked or neglected, guiding individuals toward growth, development, and a deeper appreciation of life's ontological grandeur. (...) The essay distinguishes between archetypal symbols, which connect us to the collective unconscious, and individualized symbols, which deliver unique messages tailored to the dreamer. Both types of symbols serve to harmonize inner energies and direct the dreamer's focus toward the sacredness and vitality of life. The "hypnotic position" of the dreamer in the dream state allows immersion in these symbolic realms, bypassing rational resistance and fostering profound transformative experiences. Central to this theory is the role of the "Holy Spirit" as the creative force behind dream universes. Acting as a harmonizing and guiding principle, the "Holy Spirit" communicates with the soul, providing insights and directing individuals and the cosmos toward harmony and fulfillment. Dreams are presented as spiritual-ontological acts that not only reflect the inner psyche but also connect the individual to universal truths, celebrating life as a supreme cosmic phenomenon. (shrink)

The Intelligible Living Thing, posited as the model of our visible and tangible universe in Plato’s Timaeus, is often taken for a richly structured whole, which is not a simple sum of its four major parts. This assumption seems unwarranted – most specifically, the dialogue contains no hint at any complex intelligible blue print of the world as a teleologically arranged whole, whose goodness is irreducible to the well-being and individual perfection of its parts. To construe the rich structure of (...) the world is necessary insofar as the Demiurge creates material likenesses of the austere immaterial species. While the life forms included in our universe conform to their intelligible paradigms, this is not, strictly speaking, true about the considerations guiding the Demiurgic activity which gives rise to the universe itself, whose goodness is also to be measured by comparing it to the disordered pre-cosmic matter. The paper discusses several implications of this austere interpretation of the model and its role in creation. It suggests that the Forms that compose the model should be understood as abstract particulars rather than universals, and critically discusses the relation of Timaeus’ account to the so-called Principle of Plenitude. (shrink)

Artificial intelligence has arrived. In the online world it is already a part of everyday life, sitting invisibly behind a wide range of search engines and online commerce sites. It offers huge potential to enable more efficient and effective business and government but the use of artificial intelligence brings with it important questions about governance, accountability and ethics. Realising the full potential of artificial intelligence and avoiding possible adverse consequences requires societies to find satisfactory answers to these questions. This (...) report sets out some possible approaches, and describes some of the ways government is already engaging with these issues. (shrink)

What makes a person's life meaningful? Thaddeus Metz offers a new answer to an ancient question which has recently returned to the philosophical agenda. He proceeds by examining what, if anything, all the conditions that make a life meaningful have in common. The outcome of this process is a philosophical theory of meaning in life. He starts by evaluating existing theories in terms of the classic triad of the good, the true, and the beautiful. He considers whether (...) meaning in life might be about such principles as fulfilling God's purpose, obtaining reward in an afterlife for having been virtuous, being attracted to what merits attraction, leaving the world a better place, connecting to organic unity, or transcending oneself by connecting to what is extensive. He argues that no extant principle satisfactorily accounts for the three-fold significance of morality, enquiry, and creativity, and that the most promising theory is a fresh one according to which meaning in life is a matter of intelligence contoured toward fundamental conditions of human existence. (shrink)

The project “A Plurality of Lives” was funded and hosted by the Pufendorf Institute for Advanced Studies at Lund University, Sweden. The aim of the project was to better understand how a second origin of life, either in the form of a discovery of extraterrestrial life, life developed in a laboratory, or machines equipped with abilities previously only ascribed to living beings, will change how we understand and relate to life. Because of the inherently interdisciplinary (...) nature of the project aim, the project took an interdisciplinary approach with a research group made up of 12 senior researchers representing 12 different disciplines. The project resulted in a joint volume, an international symposium, several new projects, and a network of researchers in the field, all continuing to communicate about and advance the aim of the project. (shrink)

In the past, philosophers, scientists, and even the general opinion, had no problem in accepting the existence of consciousness in the same way as the existence of the physical world. After the advent of Newtonian mechanics, science embraced a complete materialistic conception about reality. Scientists started proposing hypotheses like abiogenesis (origin of first life from accumulation of atoms and molecules) and the Big Bang theory (the explosion theory for explaining the origin of universe). How the universe came to be (...) what it is now is a key philosophical question. The hypothesis that it came from Nothing (as proposed by Stephen Hawking, among others), proves to be dissembling, since the quantum vacuum can hardly be considered a void. In modern science, it is generally assumed that matter existed before the universe came to be. Modern science hypothesizes that the manifestation of life on Earth is nothing but a mere increment in the complexity of matter — and hence is an outcome of evolution of matter (chemical evolution) following the Big Bang. After the manifestation of life, modern science believed that chemical evolution transformed itself into biological evolution, which then had caused the entire biodiversity on our planet. The ontological view of the organism as a complex machine presumes life as just a chance occurrence, without any inner purpose. This approach in science leaves no room for the subjective aspect of consciousness in its attempt to know the world as the relationships among forces, atoms, and molecules. On the other hand, the Vedāntic view states that the origin of everything material and nonmaterial is sentient and absolute (unconditioned). Thus, sentient life is primitive and reproductive of itself – omne vivum ex vivo – life comes from life. This is the scientifically verified law of experience. Life is essentially cognitive and conscious. And, consciousness, which is fundamental, manifests itself in the gradational forms of all sentient and insentient nature. In contrast to the idea of objective evolution of bodies, as envisioned by Darwin and followers, Vedānta advocates the idea of subjective evolution of consciousness as the developing principle of the world. In this paper, an attempt has been made to highlight a few relevant developments supporting a sentient view of life in scientific research, which has caused a paradigm shift in our understanding of life and its origin. (shrink)

The world of artificial intelligence appears to be in rapid transition, and claims that artificial general intelligence is impossible are competing with concerns that we may soon be seeing Artificial Godlike Intelligence and that we should be very afraid of this prospect. This article discusses the issues from a psychological and social perspective and suggests that with the advent of Generative Artificial Intelligence, something that looks to humans like Artificial General Intelligence has become a distinct possibility as is the idea (...) of making it semi-autonomous: not just responding to discrete external inputs or performing specific tasks but able to prompt itself to create an ongoing stream of cognition that can possess something akin to a ‘purpose’. Add to that the ability of computers to be connected in vast networks, and we can envisage intelligences with staggering amounts of knowledge and reasoning capability, engaging with humans to anticipate and grant wishes. Such Semi-Autonomous Godlike Artificial Intelligences (SAGAIs—meaning ‘engagements’ in Hindi) could end up like Kali, wreaking death and destruction on our species or like Thor, acting as a saviour and protector of humanity. Which of these our SAGAIs most resemble could depend on whose wishes it is designed to serve: a rich oligarchy seeking ever greater wealth and power whatever the cost to others, or a populace that has compassion for each other and for life on the planet. (shrink)

In searching for life in extraterrestrial space, it is essential to act based on an unequivocal definition of life. In the twentieth century, life was defined as cells that self-replicate, metabolize, and are open for mutations, without which genetic information would remain unchangeable, and evolution would be impossible. Current definitions of life derive from statistical mechanics, physics, and chemistry of the twentieth century in which life is considered to function machine like, ignoring a central (...) role of communication. Recent observations show that context-dependent meaningful communication and network formation (and control) are central to all life forms. Evolutionary relevant new nucleotide sequences now appear to have originated from social agents such as viruses, their parasitic relatives, and related RNA networks, not from errors. By applying the known features of natural languages and communication, a new twenty-first century definition of life can be reached in which communicative interactions are central to all processes of life. A new definition of life must integrate the current empirical knowledge about interactions between cells, viruses, and RNA networks to provide a better explanatory power than the twentieth century narrative. (shrink)

New theological understanding can emerge with the advancement of scientific knowledge and the use of new concepts, or older concepts in new ways. Here, the authors present a proposal to extend the concept of “rescue and recovery” found in the United Nations Law of the High Seas, off‐world and within a broader purview of other intelligent and self‐aware species that humans may someday encounter. The notion of a morality that extends to off‐world species is not new, but in this (...) analysis, rescue and recovery become an imperative when any intelligent and self‐aware species is in harm's way. Rescue and recovery encompass a necessary action component except perhaps in those cases where rescuers are in danger. The authors explore three biblical examples of rescue and recovery to derive a fundamental meaning of the concept. (shrink)

Artificial intelligence systems have been widely applied to various contexts, including high-stake decision processes in healthcare, banking, and judicial systems. Some developed AI models fail to offer a fair output for specific minority groups, sparking comprehensive discussions about AI fairness. We argue that the development of AI systems is marked by a central paradox: the less participation one stakeholder has within the AI system’s life cycle, the more influence they have over the way the system will function. This means (...) that the impact on the fairness of the system is in the hands of those who are less impacted by it. However, most of the existing works ignore how different aspects of AI fairness are dynamically and adaptively affected by different stages of AI system development. To this end, we present a use case to discuss fairness in the development of corporate wellness programs using smart wearables and AI algorithms to analyze data. The four key stakeholders throughout this type of AI system development process are presented. These stakeholders are called service designer, algorithm designer, system deployer, and end-user. We identify three core aspects of AI fairness, namely, contextual fairness, model fairness, and device fairness. We propose a relative contribution of the four stakeholders to the three aspects of fairness. Furthermore, we propose the boundaries and interactions between the four roles, from which we make our conclusion about the possible unfairness in such an AI developing process. (shrink)

In this paper, I provide an overview of today’s philosophical approaches to the problem of “intelligence” in the field of artificial intelligence by examining several important papers on phenomenology and the philosophy of biology such as those on Heideggerian AI, Jonas's metabolism model, and slime mold type intelligence.

The logical problem of artificial intelligence—the question of whether the notion sometimes referred to as ‘strong’ AI is self-contradictory—is, essentially, the question of whether an artificial form of life is possible. This question has an immediately paradoxical character, which can be made explicit if we recast it (in terms that would ordinarily seem to be implied by it) as the question of whether an unnatural form of nature is possible. The present paper seeks to explain this paradoxical kind of (...) possibility by arguing that machines can share the human form of life and thus acquire human mindedness, which is to say they can be intelligent, conscious, sentient, etc. in precisely the way that a human being typically is. (shrink)

In the *Science of Logic*, Hegel states unequivocally that the category of “life” is a strictly logical, or pure, form of thinking. His treatment of actual life – i.e., that which empirically constitutes nature – arises first in his *Philosophy of Nature* when the logic is applied under the conditions of space and time. Nevertheless, many commentators find Hegel’s development of this category as a purely logical one especially difficult to accept. Indeed, they find this development only comprehensible (...) as long as one simultaneously assumes that Hegel breaks his promise to let the logic do the leading. However, if Hegel were to in fact allow the logical development to be led by biological analogies at this point, problems would ensue. Not only would it contradict his own speculative method, which should secure the necessity of the categories, but it would also endanger the ontological generality of the category of life itself. Beyond undermining his method and the logical integrity of the category, however, I will argue that such a reading makes the transition to the next category of “cognition” unintelligible and problematic. My aim in the first part of this paper is to argue how logical life can be read as a pure category. I then argue in the second part how my reconstruction makes the transition to cognition intelligible without resorting to profane or supernatural interpretations. (shrink)

Wisdom in Hinduism regards self-knowledge as the truth, the basis of all Creation, of Shristi. It would turn out that the wise is a person with the self-consciousness of the whole creation in all its facets and forms. There are not many studies regarding emotional intelligence from the Indian perspective, although emotional intelligence is found in every text in ancient Indian literature (Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Ayurveda, etc.). The Indian philosophical tradition emphasizes the strong nature of emotions, which must be (...) harnessed for a harmonious life. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.30490.06086. (shrink)

The theoretical biology movement originating in Britain in the early 1930’s and the biosemiotics movement which took off in Europe in the 1980’s have much in common. They are both committed to replacing the neo-Darwinian synthesis, and they have both invoked theories of signs to this end. Yet, while there has been some mutual appreciation and influence, particularly in the cases of Howard Pattee, René Thom, Kalevi Kull, Anton Markoš and Stuart Kauffman, for the most part, these movements have developed (...) independently of each other. Focussing on morphogenesis understood as vegetative semiosis, in this paper I will argue that the ideas of these movements are commensurate. Furthermore, synthesising them would enable us to see life processes as proto-narratives. Doing so will involve synthesising biohermeneutics, Peircian biosemiotics with Waddington’s theoretical biology and Piagetian genetic structuralism, and this, I claim, would strengthen the challenge of these traditions to mainstream biology. At the same time, this should contribute to overcoming the opposition between the sciences and the humanities, developing a broader tradition of Schellingian thought which involves developing the humanities and then demanding of the physical and biological sciences that they are consistent with and can make intelligible the emergence of humans as conceived by the humanities. (shrink)

This chapter uncovers the complex negotiations for authority in various representations about futures of life which have been advanced by different branches of the sciences, and have culminated in the emerging concept of life as algorithm. It charts the historical shifts in expertise and representations of life, from naturalists, to mathematical modellers, and specialists in computation, and argues that physicists, game theorists, and economists now take a leading role in explaining and projecting futures of life. The (...) chapter identifies Richard Dawkins and Max Tegmark at the forefront of the concept of life as algorithm: the first inspired by game theory as a means to study evolution; the second proposing that a materialist basis of life could place humans and artificial intelligence on an equal footing. Through close reading of their respective texts, the chapter demonstrates that both thinkers consider life as an algorithm programmed to achieve success in survival and reproduction. (shrink)

This book is a collection of all the papers published in the special issue “Artificial Intelligence, Robots, and Philosophy,” Journal of Philosophy of Life, Vol.13, No.1, 2023, pp.1-146. The authors discuss a variety of topics such as science fiction and space ethics, the philosophy of artificial intelligence, the ethics of autonomous agents, and virtuous robots. Through their discussions, readers are able to think deeply about the essence of modern technology and the future of humanity. All papers were invited and (...) completed in spring 2020, though because of the Covid-19 pandemic and other problems, the publication was delayed until this year. I apologize to the authors and potential readers for the delay. I hope that readers will enjoy these arguments on digital technology and its relationship with philosophy. *** -/- Contents*** -/- Introduction : Descartes and Artificial Intelligence; Masahiro Morioka*** -/- Isaac Asimov and the Current State of Space Science Fiction : In the Light of Space Ethics; Shin-ichiro Inaba*** -/- Artificial Intelligence and Contemporary Philosophy : Heidegger, Jonas, and Slime Mold; Masahiro Morioka*** -/- Implications of Automating Science : The Possibility of Artificial Creativity and the Future of Science; Makoto Kureha*** -/- Why Autonomous Agents Should Not Be Built for War; István Zoltán Zárdai*** -/- Wheat and Pepper : Interactions Between Technology and Humans; Minao Kukita*** -/- Clockwork Courage : A Defense of Virtuous Robots; Shimpei Okamoto*** -/- Reconstructing Agency from Choice; Yuko Murakami*** -/- Gushing Prose : Will Machines Ever be Able to Translate as Badly as Humans?; Rossa Ó Muireartaigh***. (shrink)

This publication forms a basis for the interdisciplinary development of a certification system for artificial intelligence. In view of the rapid development of artificial intelligence with disruptive and lasting consequences for the economy, society, and everyday life, it highlights the resulting challenges that can be tackled only through interdisciplinary dialogue between IT, law, philosophy, and ethics. As a result of this interdisciplinary exchange, it also defines six AI-specific audit areas for trustworthy use of artificial intelligence. They comprise fairness, transparency, (...) autonomy and control, data protection as well as security and reliability while addressing ethical and legal requirements. The latter are further substantiated with the aim of operationalizability. (shrink)

Due to the tremendous progress in technology and the methods used in its application to facilitate and refine human's life, Intelligent Tutoring System was created to contribute in this era. In this study, the Intelligent Tutoring System was adopted as a platform in linking the complex Technological fields for obtaining information smoothly, and highlighting the importance of water issues and in the Gaza strip. In the light of the absence and inability of the formal education system to (...) raise awareness of the water crisis and its consequences on the daily life of the Gazans, the current Intelligent Tutoring System (ITS) has been utilized to disseminate knowledge and enhance awareness of water problems. The ITS aims to embrace a new water conservation practices and ensure the sustainability of fresh water. Basically the software of the tutoring system is used to create a program which could be easily used by the public population and specialists in the water field. The resulting program was fed with plenty of information about the current local water status and its related problems which are considerably useful for anyone interested to raise his/her level of knowledge and awareness about the local water status in addition to the researchers by reducing their dependency on human sources. The ITS system was presented to two groups of people: The first one consists of specialized water experts and the other consists of master student enrolled in Institute of Water and Environment in Al-Azhar University in Gaza who are interested in water problems. Both groups were requested to use the final version of the system and give their feedback by filling a questionnaire, and then the averages of the answered questions were measured for each group. It was found that the overall impressions of the users were positive. (shrink)

There is a confounding issue at the very heart of philosophical reflection. It is the question of where, and in what sense, the bounds of intelligible thought, knowledge, and speech are to be drawn. To inquire into these limits is to acknowledge that we are “finite thinking beings,” as Kant puts it. Indeed, one way of understanding our essentially problematic position in the world which leads us into philosophy is to view it as a position of being fated to the (...) perpetual attempt to reckon with the limits of intelligibility: we are creatures for whom it can become a live question how to make sense of thought, action, knowledge, the good life, the nature of self-consciousness, mortal existence, and so forth – and where this sense-making gives out. This introductory essay puts special emphasis on the ways in which we might fall prey to a confused and pernicious kind of self-deception or self-alienation in seeking a philosophical remedy to the limits of intelligibility. In modern times, no other thinkers have faced up to this troubling possibility of self-alienation with the same rigor and in such depth as Kant and Wittgenstein. (shrink)