Prof. Nevzat Tarhan: "If we do not want our children to become hopeless cases, we must preserve family values"

President of Üsküdar University, Psychiatrist Prof. Nevzat Tarhan, participated in a conference titled "Evil and Artificial Intelligence in a Changing World," organized by the Union Foundation Bursa Branch. Emphasizing that digitalization has created a very powerful force, Tarhan highlighted that instead of opposing artificial intelligence, it should be used appropriately for its intended goals. Pointing out that children are becoming victims of the digital world due to weakening family bonds, Tarhan referred to digital platforms as "attention killers." Tarhan also emphasized that loneliness is increasing globally and stated that family values should be preserved to prevent children from becoming hopeless cases.

The conference, moderated by Muhammed Yılmaz, the President of the Union Foundation Bursa Branch, drew great interest from the people of Bursa.

"Digitalization has created a very serious power"

Psychiatrist Prof. Nevzat Tarhan, noting that artificial intelligence should be used in accordance with goals rather than opposed, said: "One of the biggest reasons Israel failed in Gaza is social media. If this had happened 20 years ago, the society's reaction could have been ignored. It would have been a serious massacre. It stopped it. Digitalization has created a very serious power. Just as the invention of the printing press created a change in human history, artificial intelligence will also bring the same change. So, instead of opposing artificial intelligence, it should be used while aiming towards our goals. It's like this: When a river overflows, instead of cursing and getting angry, what do you do? You grab a log. You hold on to that log and head towards your goal. You don't fight the flood, you don't curse it. You don't say, 'The fish will go where it’s going.' You turn to your goal," he began his speech.

"The stone roads of the past are the internet of today"

Emphasizing that we should be the subject, not the object of the digital world, Tarhan stated: "The social, economic, and military mobility of Rome created stone roads. That is where the saying 'All roads lead to Rome' comes from. The disciples of Jesus used those roads to spread Christianity all the way to Rome. The stone roads of that time are the internet of today. We can use today’s internet to spread the truth globally. There is an opportunity like this. Anyone can open a YouTube page. You can explain your thoughts, your cause, your ideas. Those with strong ideas will win. Let us believe in our cause, and whether we win or lose depends on the struggle we put up. Fate asks this from us. Let's see if we will use these opportunities for the right path. Let us use digitalization not for our ego, but for our ideals. A person who praises themselves more than three times a day is considered a narcissist. Talking about a cause in videos is one thing; showing off is another. Social media is now a battlefield. You have to exert effort, and it should be a space used for your cause. Let’s not be the object of the digital world; let’s be the subject. Let them not use us or direct us. Let us be the ones who determine the direction."

"Artificial intelligence can be objective"

Stating that artificial intelligence can be objective based on the information it has, Tarhan said: "Artificial intelligence, as the name suggests, is artificial, not real. I asked artificial intelligence, 'Is accidental existence more reasonable, or is designed existence more reasonable?' Both could be true, but it responded that designed existence is more reasonable. When reasoning, artificial intelligence sees that the universe cannot be accidental. This means artificial intelligence can approach things objectively, but it does so based on the information available. The more accurate and good information we provide to artificial intelligence, the closer it will come to the truth. If false information is provided, it will make wrong decisions. We need to offer artificial intelligence good, true, and beautiful things."

"Digital platforms are called attention killers"

Emphasizing that the weakening of family bonds has made children victims of the digital world, Tarhan expressed that "Digital platforms are called attention killers. Especially young people constantly have smartphones in their hands. It takes away their attention. It causes attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among children. Digital platforms have a serious effect on the isolation of teenagers. That is why restrictions are being imposed. The Ministry is working on this issue. Children at that age cannot distinguish good from bad, right from wrong. Right now, modernism teaches that what is liked is good, and what is disliked is bad. Our truths have changed. Our philosophy of life has changed. Teenagers cannot do cost-benefit analysis or make judgments. If there is no peace at home, the child easily resorts to the digital world. School refusal starts. When family bonds weaken, children become victims of the digital world. It is important to do a detox here. We need digital detox on social media. At home, there should be face-to-face conversations at regular intervals. If we do this, many problems can be easily solved. Weak families and bad friends make the biggest mistakes for young people. Therefore, when there is no family, we cannot save young people from social media."

The magical concept, tawhid...

Talking about the proof of Tawhid with the help of science, Tarhan said: "Right now, quantum physics is asking, 'Is the universe a simulation?' Think of a computer game. Imagine someone playing football in the game. The player does not know whether a goal will happen when they hit the ball. The programmer who wrote the program knows whether it will be a goal based on the coordinates and angles. The programmer looks from the outside and says, 'If you hit it from this angle, it will be a goal.' This is an example. Allah has created the whole universe as a simulation. What we call fate, we do not know, but Allah knows it. Allah knows what is destined. If the universe is a simulation, we can understand fate. There is a need to believe in God. Here, all the arrows point to Tawhid. If there is absolute knowledge, absolute will, absolute power, and absolute wisdom, and if there is a force close to the jugular vein, controlling everything, that can only be God. Otherwise, it cannot be God. After believing in Tawhid, you believe in everything else. That is why the magical concept here is Tawhid. We need to remove the question marks in this regard. Science is helping us right now. Science is proving that the Quran is true and that Tawhid is the religion."

"Only humans search for meaning"

Speaking about metacognitive genes, Tarhan said: "There is a lot of research on how spirituality affects mental health. Especially in humans, four genes are mentioned. These are called metacognitive genes. These are the genes related to the mind. One of them is the meaning-seeking gene. No other creature searches for meaning. The second gene is the novelty-seeking gene. Humans do not make their homes the same as the humans from a thousand years ago. Humans have the feature of seeking novelty. The third is the gene related to the perception of time. The distinction between past and future is made. The fourth gene is the gene related to the awareness of death. No other creature knows it will die. Look at the animals in the slaughterhouse. Even though slaughter is imminent, they continue grazing because they do not know they will die. These genetic traits show us that humans have a search for meaning. This search for meaning exists in humans."

"Our brain programs itself according to our intentions"

Saying that humans must first understand themselves, Tarhan stated: "What drives a person and helps them focus is intention. There are studies on the neuroscience of intention. Whatever our intention is, our brain programs itself according to that. Let’s say we are intending on a certain topic. The brain sets a goal related to it. After the goal, a need arises. After the need, a desire emerges. When the desire awakens, motivation kicks in. Right now, if a young person wants to regulate their behavior, they should examine their intentions. Is their intention money, property, fame? 'What kind of person should I be by the time I reach the end of my life?' Our intention should be this. If someone aims for high human values in their intention, it is like this: We take a map in our hand. The destination is clear, but first, we need to know where we are. Someone who knows where they are can chart the road map for their goal. They can set the navigation accordingly. Knowing where we are is important. We must first understand ourselves."

"The child takes three examples"

Emphasizing that parents should spend time with their children, Prof. Tarhan stated that "Social media should not be at the center of our lives. It should be a tool to move towards our goals. Some parents come home, pick up their phones, and place their children in front of the TV. Children are most affected by body language. When a child is about to do something, they glance at their parents. If they get approval, they do it. A child takes three examples. The mother, the father, and the relationship between the parents. If these are good, even if the child makes a mistake, they will return. That is why if we want to correct our children, we should first correct ourselves. Let’s improve communication within the family. When we improve that, no bad child will come out of that house. Let’s spend time with our children. Let’s not leave them to cheap babysitters. Let’s try to keep them away from phones and screens as much as possible. The best gift a mother or father can give to their child is spending time with them. Giving them value. That is the greatest gift. If you do not do this, the child will become a child of the digital world."

"Global capitalism encourages narcissism"

Talking about the traits of narcissistic people, Tarhan said that "Narcissists see themselves as perfect. They see themselves as special, important, and superior to others. They are always right. They have no empathy. This happens in workplaces as well. If there is a narcissistic manager, you cannot criticize them. However, criticism helps remove blindness in their work. Business owners know this as 'business blindness.' When they are in the same environment, they keep making the same mistakes. When someone points out a mistake, they should be thankful. That is why ideal business owners send independent auditors to find and correct their flaws. Narcissists, however, are closed to criticism. They are fed with praise. Right now, global capitalism encourages narcissism. Narcissism is truly a global disease."

"All people are equal in terms of opportunities to be good"

Stating that societies that disregard the disabled are backward, Tarhan said that "The tests for disadvantaged and advantaged people are different. Disadvantaged people are tested by their disadvantages in life. The other people are tested in understanding and creating opportunities for disadvantaged people to integrate into social life. Both advantaged and disadvantaged people have responsibilities on both sides. Some people are short, some are tall, some are handsome, others have different characteristics, but all people are equal in terms of opportunities to be good. People are created equal in terms of the opportunity to be good. In other areas, they are not created equal due to the secret of the test. One of the most important indicators of a society’s development is how it treats the disabled. Societies with institutions and projects for the disabled are developed. Societies that ignore or neglect the disabled are backward. That is why we must make efforts to help disabled people and set good examples."

"If we do not want our children to become hopeless cases, we must preserve family values"

Highlighting that loneliness is increasing globally, Tarhan said that "One of the biggest problems of this era is insecurity, which has increased a lot. There is a global loneliness. England and Japan have established a Ministry of Loneliness. We might establish one too at this rate. Loneliness is rising dramatically. This is a global issue. At this point, we need to look at the root of the problem. Children between the ages of 14 and 16 have a high need for trust. They want to feel valued. They have a need for trust. That is why the need to alleviate loneliness is very high. If we make the family an institution that alleviates loneliness, we will protect both ourselves and our families from evils. That is why we say 'The Last Refuge is Family.' Why the last refuge? There were three norms protecting society and people: legal norms, social norms, and family norms. Legal norms are rules and laws. Those who break them are judged in courts. The second is social norms, customs, and traditions. Due to digitalization, social norms have been destroyed, and our traditions have been upset. This is called social anomie. Social norms have disappeared. Family is no longer the means of cultural transmission; social media does this now. If the family is weak, our children will be the victims of time and become hopeless cases. If we do not want our children to become hopeless cases, we must preserve family values. That is why investing in the family is as important as investing in national defense. Investment in stone and land is not permanent, but investment in humans is permanent."

Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)