Can AI develop empathy?
Stating that quantum consciousness studies attract attention today, Psychiatrist Prof. Nevzat Tarhan expressed that "The human brain has a much more complex structure than a normal computer. One gram of the brain contains more connections than any telecommunications center in the world and runs on only 20-Watt hours of energy."
Noting that the program in the human brain is focused on feeling safe, Tarhan stated that "When you do not feel that trust, you cannot be happy. The feeling of being safe is very important. In a society that does not provide a sense of security, there can be no peace in the country. Therefore, the reason why there is high trust in societies is that there is a fair legal order. If law and freedom coexist in a society, there will be happiness, there will be trust, and there will be peace."
Pointing out that artificial intelligence is limited in learning emotional and social skills for now, Tarhan said that it does not seem possible to internalize human emotions and empathy with current technology.
President of Üsküdar University and Psychiatrist Prof. Nevzat Tarhan answered Altaylı's questions on the "Fatih Altaylı Teke Tek Bilim" YouTube channel.
It is recognized as a center of excellence in neuroscience...
Informing about the work of Üsküdar University, Prof. Tarhan stated that "As we leave behind the 13th year of its establishment, the number of our students has reached around 24 thousand. We graduated 8,000 this year and currently have about 3,500 international students. Our university has a thematic structure, and we focus on areas such as health, engineering, neuroscience, and behavioral sciences synthesis."
Stating that studies in the field of neuroscience attracted attention thanks to the thematic focus, Tarhan expressed that "We were recognized as a center of excellence in neuroscience by UNICEF. This is of interest to post-doctoral students and international students. As a university, we choose a subject and try to deepen in that field. Our focus is on neuroscience. We combine the fields of neuroscience, neuropsychiatry, health and behavioral sciences with engineering."
We are examining the genes of astronauts
Tarhan expressed that “We are working with our own means to fund needed options for R&D projects. Our genetics teachers are currently analyzing the blood samples of one of the astronauts participating in the space mission. With this project from TÜBİTAK, what changes occur in genes under low pressures and microgravity are examined. All these studies are carried out thanks to the strong infrastructure system established by our university.” Tarhan said that “Is there any change in the blood and genes of Alper Gezeravcı, who went to space and back, and what kind of changes are there? He is carrying out that project right now and they are friends.”
A holistic understanding of science that brings religion and science together...
Noting that the book "Psychology of Belief and Science" has been translated into English and the third edition of the English edition has been made, Tarhan continued his remarks as follows: "As in Türkiye, there is an approach that 'science and religion are opposed to each other and cannot coexist' around the world. However, this is not a situation that should be. Recent scientific developments have revealed that the sciences are a whole and the importance of this holistic approach. We also touched on this issue at the international science congress we organized last year. Together with professors from Washington DC and Arizona, we discussed the holistic understanding of science that brings religion and science together. The 'Post-Materialist Science Manifesto' published in 2014 by professors from Arizona, Columbia University and Chicago in the USA also supports this approach. The manifesto emphasizes the concept of the spiritual brain and that religious sciences and natural sciences complement each other. We translated this manifesto into Turkish and published it on our web site."
"I argue that beliefs should also be in accordance with reason"
"Science is based on measurability. However, on the other hand, God is one. It has no measurability. On the question of ‘How does it happen?’, Tarhan explained that fuzzy logic is a method used in artificial intelligence and that this method was first developed by an Azerbaijani scientist who wrote his article in 1965, and that "Instead of a definite 'yes' or 'no' about whether an event will occur or not, probabilities such as intermediate degrees are used, and continued his remarks as follows:
"There are four main ways to arrive at the truth: experiment and observation (the method of positive science), reasoning, rational intuition, and rational faith. Like the example of the ‘Gunung Kawi Sebatu Temple’ I saw in Japan, some beliefs may not be reasonable. As Hegel said, 'Everything that is real is reasonable. Everything that is rational is real.' Therefore, I argue that beliefs must also be reasonable. Now there are 4,300 religions. And the answer to the question 'what is spirituality' is as follows: 'Spirituality is the subjective emotion that a person feels when searching for a sacred value. This emotion can be measured scientifically and is universal, meaning that the brain is not only the organ of thought, but also the organ of belief.
There is research being done on Buddhist monks. 256 electrodes are placed on the head. When they meditate, they look at how their brain works. A region of the brain close to the frontal region is examined. When you say, 'I am integrated with the universe,' all the fears go away, and interestingly, the drugs stimulate the same part of the brain."
Man can find the creator through methods of reasoning and rational faith...
Stating that animal brains are secular and that the human brain does not have a secular structure, unlike other living things, Tarhan noted that the human brain is prone to thoughts independent of time and space and therefore is in search of holiness and religion, and said that the search for meaning gene, death perception gene, past and future questioning gene and novelty search gene are found or predicted. Tarhan stated that "There is a search for the sacred in the nature of man. Just as we feel our stomach's need for food, this quest is also a need. The feeling of eating and drinking indicates the presence of food. In the same way, humans have a desire for eternity. As people get older, they want to live more, and this desire for immortality becomes evident. When you ask an elderly person about the past, they will say, 'It has passed like a day.' There is also a lot of literature on afterlife experiences. This desire for eternity in humans is actually a reflection of a need within us, and It is just like our stomach feels the need for food."
Stating that people have an innate fear of death, Tarhan said that "This pushes one to a search. The first verse of the Holy Quran, the command 'Read', actually means 'search'; that is, it encourages the finding of the truth. Man can find the creator through reasoning methods and rational belief."
"I believe in God scientifically"
Telling a memory, Tarhan stated that a friend answered the question "Do you believe in God?" with "I believe scientifically" and said that if there is a hypothesis, it is not enough to just confirm it, but also to prove it, and said that "If I claim that there is a pin in this room, it is easy to prove it. However, you have to search everywhere to prove that you are not in the room. How can you claim that there is no God anywhere in the universe? My friend admitted that he could not prove this claim scientifically."
Pointing out that the probability of the existence of God is higher than the probability of not existing, using the concept of fuzzy logic, Tarhan stated that the probability of the universe coming into existence by chance is impossibly low.
Smart design courses are taught as an alternative to evolution courses
Tarhan said that "There are probability calculations in mathematics. In probability calculations, probabilities above 10 to the power of 50 are considered zero in mathematics, that is, impossible. According to probability calculations in mathematics, after the sperm and egg unite, they are constantly dividing. Decisions are constantly being made in every division. Probability calculations have been made so that only DNA, telomeres and amino acids can form on their own by making the right decisions. The probability calculations of the random combination of amino acids in the air are 10 out of 652. However, odds above 10 to the power of 50 are impossible. After the emergence of quantum, intelligent design courses are now being taught as an alternative to evolution courses. In design-based existence, the thesis that life is harmony instead of the thesis that life is a struggle. Instead of natural selection, it is canonical selection. There is selection, but there is a controlled universe. It is not uncontrolled. In summary, we can see that evolution also undergoes evolution, and Tarhan argues in his book The Psychology of Wisdom that if Darwin were alive today, he would have rewritten the theory of evolution.”
Information and database form the basis of the entire universe
Noting that according to quantum electrodynamics, there is first information and then a universal database, Tarhan continued his remarks as follows:
"This information and database forms the basis of the entire universe. Mathematics is at the heart of these building blocks because mathematics is the basis of all sciences, which is why mathematics is not awarded the Nobel Prize. After mathematics comes geometry, and geometry is the basis of design. Then, sciences such as physics, chemistry, and biology form the building blocks of the universe, respectively. If there are 4,300 religions, one of them must be true. If so, which one is plausible? The belief in monotheism is the most plausible. If there has to be a god, what should be the attributes of the god? If he is omniscient, omnipotent, and absolutely wise, he can only make this universe work perfectly. For example, the law of entropy says this. Entropy is the second law of thermodynamics. When this entropy rises, there is disorder. The universe is moving away from order in an orderly manner. Therefore, we need constant external control. At the moment, the universe is being discussed as to whether it is a multiverse. They ask Hawkins, 'You do not believe in God. You're going to die.' And they say, 'What is going to happen there?' He says, ‘If there is hope, there is life.’ He says, ‘According to my mathematical mind, there is so much alive, so much movement, so much diversity in this tiny world like a dot. Such a large universe would not be empty according to my mathematical mind.' Or there are superior communities that use high computer technology. They are going to invade us like we invaded America.’ That is what he thinks.”
Quantum physics has gone from being just a theoretical concept to a concrete reality
Stating that Newtonian physics is a system that explains the universe with strict and precise rules, Tarhan said that "It had a clear approach such as either there is or there is not, and this was an absolute understanding at that time. However, this changed with Einstein's Theory of Relativity. Einstein established that the universe is relative and not everything is absolute. More importantly, quantum physics has gone from being just a theoretical concept to a concrete reality with the proof of quantum entanglement in 2022. This showed that the universe has a more complex and interconnected structure. If Spinoza had lived in this period, perhaps he would have embraced these new scientific understandings different from Newtonian physics."
The brain works on only 20 Watt hours of energy
Stating that quantum consciousness studies attract attention today, Tarhan expressed that "Quantum consciousness expresses the idea that the human brain works like a quantum computer. In other words, the human brain has a much more complex structure than a normal computer. One gram of the brain contains more connections than all the telecommunications centers in the world and runs on only 20 Watts of energy. This shows how efficient and powerful the brain is."
It is in the best interest of man to believe in God with fuzzy logic...
Pointing out that studies on quantum consciousness and the functioning of the human brain reveal that our brain works like a small universe, Tarhan stated that "Thought can exist independently of time and space, and our brain appears as a much larger organ beyond these thoughts. When we go by fuzzy logic, it is in the best interest of man to believe in God. Why? Because man has a sense of death. Believing in God gives meaning in an effort to provide balance between good and evil. Man's fear of death and their sense of accountability cause belief in God to take a strong place in human life. This belief contributes to the survival of human beings in the direction of a greater purpose."
Islam promotes compassion and peace, not violence
Stating that faith should encourage peace and compassion, not violence, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan explained that Islam in the founding period was based on peace and mercy, but these principles were deviated from over time, especially the elements of violence taken from Mesopotamian culture were adapted to Islam, and with the strengthening of Arab racism during the Umayyad period, the essence of Islam was moved away.
Tarhan said that the Prophet's compassionate and compassionate attitudes and the fact that the Qur'an begins with the names of Merciful and Compassionate show that the true face of Islam encourages mercy and peace, not violence.
If the home becomes a safe space, healthy children grow up
Answering journalist Fatih Altaylı's questions about social psychology, Tarhan stated that "We can say that society is a reduced family, and the family is an enlarged society. In a family, if the mother holds a child, if the father holds a child, that is, we call it a vertical coalition in the family, if there is a vertical coalition, there will be no peace in that family. Because when the child comes home, he thinks that they are not in a fair environment. If there is no justice, there is no trust. Fukuyama says that ‘societies with more freedom increase social trust.’ If there is an environment of freedom and rules, there will be a fair environment. When uncertainty arises, people worry about the future. Young people in society are now questioning. Parents raise their children to stay silent. What happens when a child comes along who does not question because he was raised like this? They endure in silence, and after their adolescence, they start to defy it at the first opportunity. If there is no vertical coalition in the family, if there is a horizontal coalition, if the parents have formed a coalition, if they act together, if they make a joint decision, in a family, everyone in that family feels safe. They love it when they come home. When they leave the house, they leave relieved. The house becomes like a shelter. If the house becomes a safe space, healthy children will grow up."
The culture of fear corrupts society on both an individual and societal level
Prof. Tarhan stated that Hitler made evil commonplace, and that the culture of propaganda and fear corrupted society at both individual and social levels and made people hypocrites by eliminating freedom.
Explaining what is meant by hypocrisy, Tarhan stated that "They exploit for benefit in hypocrisy. In other words, two-faced people are multiplying. There are types of people who say 'yes' to everything, who speak differently at different tables, and where hypocrisy increases. They are bloodsuckers. It is like a cancer cell. It kills the tissue along with itself. It kills the body. These people are also enriched by bribes. A special privileged class is being formed.”
If there is no justice in the family and society, there is no peace
Noting that when there is no love and justice in the family, children are also enemies of their parents, Tarhan stated that "Justice is very important. If there is no justice in the family, there is no peace. If there is no justice in society, there is no peace. Suicide is on the rise in northern Europe, yes, but they still come out happy. Because there is a legal order. There is an established order. There is justice if you have the feeling of being sure that you will get your due when you go to court. Without these feelings, there is no justice.”
Explaining that the most important thing that distinguishes the developed society from the undeveloped society is the law, rights and legal order, and that people feel safe at that time, Tarhan continued his remarks as follows:
"Where there is justice, justice is safe under it like a tent. What happens when a person is unhappy? It is trying to defend the whole brain. The program in the human brain is focused on feeling safe. When you do not feel that trust, you cannot be happy. The feeling of being safe is very important. There can be no peace in a society that does not provide a sense of security. There can be no peace in a country. That is why there is a high level of trust in societies because there is a rule of law. If there is freedom, there will be happiness, there will be trust, there will be peace in that society."
If one has a mental sanctuary, one relaxes...
Informing about the methods of coping with unhappiness, Tarhan stated that "Mental shelter enables the individual to gain resilience in the face of the difficulties one faces. This concept also coincides with the idea of 'surrendering to a higher belief' in 3rd generation psychotherapies. Individuals are able to find peace in situations that they cannot control, thanks to such beliefs. If one has a mental refuge, one is relieved. If they have a sense of being a part of a high power and value, they feel safe and can find their way."
Pointing out that society will improve if everyone keeps their own space clean, Tarhan stated that "I am not pessimistic about it. Young people are very good. Young people, Generation Z... We think young people are selfish. We think they are conformist. They look like it, but they are very cute. And the best feature of young people is their high sense of innocence. Expectations of justice and freedom are high. Because of these expectations, young people are questioning. Do not be afraid of the inquiring teenager. Be afraid of the youth who is silent and weak-hearted. One who inquires finds the truth."
Learn the software language after English!
Asking Tarhan about his suggestions and recommendations for young people, Tarhan expressed that "Artificial intelligence has broken the mold. In 2018, in Davos, a thesis emerged that 'our brains can be hacked'. And at that time, Covid did not started yet. At that time, artificial intelligence, the metaverse emerged after that. It is the meeting place of global capital. 'A digital dictatorship is emerging' was the objection. After Covid, digital platforms got rid of a foundation. Russia and China have their own digital platforms. It would have been better for Türkiye if Türkiye had trained a few thousand software developers instead of distributing tablets to the public at that time. Artificial intelligence will shape our future. While we used to say, 'everything is data', but now we say,'data is everything'. We are in a period where Big Data is the greatest power. In such a case, it is very important to be able to use it in the best way. If we, as a society, as a nation, as a state, are the subject of big data, if we are not the object of it, we become an actor. If we remain as its object - unfortunately we are at the moment - we are used, and we continue. We are managed. That is why we say to young people, if you want to learn a second language, 'Learn the software language after English.'"
Stating that artificial intelligence and the professions of the future are also discussed, Tarhan said that "There are things that artificial intelligence can do. For example, they are trying to teach artificial intelligence about emotions. Artificial intelligence detects skin temperature changes. It detects the change in skin resistance, that is, the change in heat and humidity in the skin. It detects brain waves. There is a method of neurobiofeedback. It also perceives it with it. They teach it, but they cannot teach the computer the subjective thing of that feeling of love. Because it is not in the calculable area. At the moment, it does not seem possible to teach free will to artificial intelligence."
Artificial intelligence is limited in learning emotional and social skills
Noting that children's abstract thinking skills do not develop between the ages of 0-6, that children are more interested in concrete thoughts in this period, and that the development of empathy and theory of mind begins at this age, Prof. Tarhan expressed that "Theory of mind allows you to understand the thoughts and feelings of others. Autistic children often have a hard time developing theory of mind, and this can cause them to have difficulty with social and emotional interactions. Similar to artificial intelligence, it is difficult to teach human-specific skills such as theory of mind and empathy. Artificial intelligence is proficient at processing data and reacting according to certain rules; however, it is limited in learning emotional and social skills. Currently, artificial intelligence struggles to understand and behave in accordance with emotional states or empathy."
It is hard for AI to develop emotional literacy and empathy
On the question "Can we call artificial intelligence autistic?", Tarhan stated that the analogy of "autistic" can be made and said that "The development of emotional literacy and empathy by artificial intelligence is a very difficult goal with existing algorithms. In the future, even if significant advances are made to bring such skills to AI, it still seems very difficult for AI to internalize human emotions and empathy, at least with current technology. Moreover, there are important points about personality disorders and personality traits. Computers do cause and effect.
Learning from the experiences of others...
Stating that some people learn more effectively and improve themselves by benefiting from the experiences of others, Tarhan said that "This is one of the best learning methods. However, some people repeat their mistakes over and over again, and in this case, the learning process slows down. Instead of improving themselves, these people often blame others and do not take personal responsibility. Such people may have traits such as a God complex or narcissistic personality disorder. In other words, they want everything to be according to their own wishes and are closed to criticism. This can lead to serious problems, especially in relationships and marriages, as the desire to control the other party and put one's own interests first can lead to conflicts and domestic violence. When you look at the back of the domestic violence thing, there are always ego battles. There are power struggles.”
Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)