PolishBear's World

I'm currently reading "The Future of Humanity" by Michio Kaku, a professor of theoretical physics. It's not a difficult read, pretty accessible to anyone who graduated from high school. I've always thought the one quality that makes humans unique of all Earth's species is our ability to anticipate how things might be in the future. In the passage below, Professor Kaku thinks along the same lines in defining human consciousness and self-awareness.

****************

I have proposed a theory that I call the space-time theory of consciousness. It is testable, reproducible, falsifiable, and quantifiable. It not only defines self- awareness but also allows us to quantify it on a scale.

The theory starts with the idea that animals, plants, and even machines can be conscious. Consciousness, I claim, is the process of creating a model of yourself using multiple feedback loops—for example, in space, in society, or in time—in order to carry out a goal. To measure consciousness, we simply count the number and types of feedback loops necessary for subjects to achieve a model of themselves.

The smallest unit of consciousness might be found in a thermostat or photocell, which employs a single feedback loop to create a model of itself in terms of temperature or light. A flower might have, say, ten units of consciousness, since it has ten feedback loops measuring water, temperature, the direction of gravity, sunlight, et cetera. In my theory, these loops can be grouped according to a certain level of consciousness. Thermostats and flowers would belong to Level 0.

Level 1 consciousness includes that of reptiles, fruit flies, and mosquitos, which generate models of themselves with regard to space. A reptile has numerous feedback loops to determine the coordinates of its prey and the location of potential mates, potential rivals, and itself.

Level 2 involves social animals. Their feedback loops relate to their pack or tribe and produce models of the complex social hierarchy within the group as expressed by emotions and gestures. These levels roughly mimic the stages of evolution of the mammalian brain. The most ancient part of our brain is at the very back, where balance, territoriality, and instincts are processed. The brain expanded in the forward direction and developed the limbic system, the monkey brain of emotions, located in the center of the brain. This progression from the back to the front is also the way a child’s brain matures.

So, then, what is human consciousness in this scheme? What distinguishes us from plants and animals?

I theorize that humans are different from animals because we understand time. We have temporal consciousness in addition to spatial and social consciousness. The latest part of the brain to evolve is the prefrontal cortex, which lies just behind our forehead. It is constantly running simulations of the future. Animals may seem like they’re planning, for example, when they hibernate, but these behaviors are largely the result of instinct. It is not possible to teach your pet dog or cat the meaning of tomorrow, because they live in the present. Humans, however, are constantly preparing for the future and even for beyond our own life spans. We scheme and daydream—we can’t help it. Our brains are planning machines.

MRI scans have shown that when we arrange to perform a task, we access and incorporate previous memories of that same task, which make our plans more realistic. One theory states that animals don’t have a sophisticated memory system because they rely on instinct and therefore don’t require the ability to envision the future. In other words, the very purpose of having a memory may be to project it into the future.

Within this framework, we can now define self-awareness, which can be understood as the ability to put ourselves inside a simulation of the future, consistent with a goal.

When we apply this theory to machines, we see that our best machines at present are on the lowest rung of Level 1 consciousness, based on their ability to locate their position in space. Most, like those built for the DARPA Robotics Challenge, can barely navigate around an empty room. There are some robots that can partially simulate the future, such as Google’s DeepMind computer, but only in an extremely narrow direction. If you ask DeepMind to accomplish anything other than a Go game, it freezes up.

By Jena Friedman for The New Yorker

CAPRICORN: You started off the year energized, but unforeseen circumstances have left you feeling listless. For a dynamic sign like the Goat, you’re tired all the time, and you’ve been finding it difficult to concentrate. This month, prepare to continue to not get any work done. Also, that lingering career anxiety you’ve been feeling isn’t just in your head after all! Don’t worry. It’s highly likely that your entire profession is screwed.

AQUARIUS: As an air sign, you love to travel, but, for some reason, you haven’t been running around as much lately. Ever since March, you’ve barely ventured out, instead spending the bulk of your time online. It’s a good thing you love technology, Aquarius, because the stars predict that you will be logging a lot of Zoom hours this month. Keep an eye out for a notice from your bank with some unwelcome news about your finances.

PISCES: Poor, sensitive Pisces. This really hasn’t been your year! Would it make you feel better to know that someone is admiring you from afar? That’s right, some attractive stranger’s eyes are set on you, dear Pisces! Unfortunately, you’ll probably never meet the person.

ARIES: Ever since Mercury entered Pisces in mid-March, you haven’t been able to shake an unusual anxiety. Much of your stress is related to new developments in your career, your health, your personal life, your family, global warming, income inequality, the state of our democracy, and the industry you work in. This month, buckle up, because it’s all about to get much worse. Oh, and you may receive some unfavorable information regarding your finances.

TAURUS: The moon entered your Tenth House of Career Success at some point, but I’ve lost track of when, as it’s all become a meaningless blur. That said, in normal times your career might be getting a boost right now, but a cosmic shift has thrown everything into limbo. Protect that rainy-day fund, responsible Taurus, as you’re about to get bad news about your finances.

GEMINI: As the life of the party, Gemini, you have a hard time settling down. But, with Jupiter in retrograde since mid-September, it might be a good moment to avoid social gatherings. The moon in your Seventh House of Not Being an Idiot suggests that going out in public is a mistake. But, if you do, wear a fucking mask.

CANCER: You seem pretty emotional lately, even for a Cancer. You are a sensitive creature who needs coaxing to come out of your shell. Unfortunately, that’s not going to happen, at least not this month. Just remember that you’re not alone—well, at least metaphorically. Have you thought about adopting a pet? I know your sourdough starter is technically a living organism, but it won’t love you back.

LEO: You love drama, and, lucky for you, there’s a lot of it on TV right now! But, if your moon is in Cancer, Gemini, Capricorn, Scorpio, Aquarius, Virgo, Leo, Pisces, Sagittarius, Aries, Libra, or Taurus, I would avoid cable news. Also, I hope that you have a nest egg, because you are about to receive some troubling news regarding your finances.

VIRGO: How’s it going, control freak? The past few months have been a little rocky for you, and, sorry to say, the storm doesn’t appear to be subsiding. This month, try to stop obsessing about what you can’t control and focus instead on what you can control, like the amount of stuff you’ve been ordering on Amazon. Do you really need that six-dollar milk frother? The answer is yes.

LIBRA: Feeling a little lonely lately? If you’re single, there’s a good chance you’ll stay that way for the immediate future. If you’re in a relationship, good luck with that—everyone I know is breaking up. On the bright side, a medical breakthrough on the horizon might make it easier for you to navigate society. The bad news: you’re probably last in line for it.

SCORPIO: Scorpio is a natural homebody, but nine months in isolation is a lot, even for you. Since you’ve been moving around so much less lately, you may have put on a few pounds around your midsection, or all over your body. Don’t fret, dear Scorpio. Now that Venus has entered your Fifth House of It Doesn’t Even Matter Anymore, no one is likely to notice.

SAGITTARIUS: As one of the most resourceful signs of the zodiac, you have all the skills necessary to weather any storm, except for the one that’s currently approaching. We’re about to embark on an astrological apocalypse, which isn’t actually a thing, but what do I care? I’m not even an astrologer. I’m grasping at straws. (Remember straws?) Like everyone else in this country (except Jeff Bezos), I’m scrambling to find ways to monetize my skill set now that my profession (standup comedy) won’t be coming back anytime soon. Are you still reading this? Want to know what the stars have to say about your finances? It’s not looking good.