President of Üsküdar University, Psychiatrist Prof. Nevzat Tarhan, attended the 10th International Congress on Creation in the Light of Sciences, held in Trabzon on October 1–2, 2026, as an invited speaker.
The congress, which garnered significant interest, was attended by numerous figures including Trabzon Governor Tahir Şahin, Metropolitan Mayor Ahmet Metin Genç, and KTU Rector Prof. Hamdullah Çuvalcı.
Speaking at the opening panel of the congress, held at KTU Osman Turan Hall with the theme “Universe: Measure, Balance, and Meaning,” Prof. Tarhan delivered a presentation titled “Differences and Similarities Between the Universe and Artificial Intelligence.”
In his speech, Tarhan addressed the functioning of the brain, artificial neural networks, the regulation of emotions, and humanity's search for meaning.
“We were expecting a counter-scientific thesis”
Referring to the Creation Manifesto they published in 2024, Prof. Tarhan stated that they were expecting criticism and counter-theses, especially from scientists working in the fields of physics, mathematics, and biology.
Prof. Tarhan said, “We were expecting scientific criticism. ‘This part should not be like this, but like that.’ We were expecting a counter-scientific thesis. It never came.”
Emphasis on a scientific approach to young people's questions
Tarhan stated that questions from young people regarding faith and creation should be taken seriously, emphasizing the importance of a scientific approach in answering them. Prof. Tarhan expressed that responding to questions from individuals who do not accept religious references solely with these references would not be sufficient, saying, “In this era, if we proceed with scientific rigor, we will persuade them.”
“Constantly earn and consume, earn and consume”
Prof. Tarhan, who also showed a video on the differences between pleasure and happiness during his speech, then made evaluations on consumer culture and life philosophy.
Noting that the capitalist system encourages a pleasure-oriented life, Prof. Tarhan said, “The capitalist system is a system aimed at making the brain secrete dopamine. It is a pleasure-oriented system. It presents hedonism as a life philosophy to us. Constantly earn and consume, earn and consume. Earn for five days, have fun for two, that's such a system.”
“We need to aim for the happiness of meaning”
Prof. Tarhan, evaluating the pursuit of happiness in terms of pleasure and meaning, referred to Aristotle's understanding of happiness. Emphasizing that humans should include the search for meaning when forming their life philosophy, Prof. Tarhan said, “We need to aim for this happiness of meaning.”
Describing the brain's complex structure and the interrelation of its different regions, Prof. Tarhan stated that the brain functions “like a collection of factories.” Sharing his views on human existence and how life should be organized through this structure, Prof. Tarhan said, “Who is in the best position to know how a device can work best? It is the one who produced that device.”
“Who made this fine-tuning, and how was it done?”
Evaluating the fine-tuning discussions regarding the beginning of the universe, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan shared his views on creation through the delicate balances in physical processes. Posing the question, “So, who made this fine-tuning, and how was it done?” Prof. Tarhan added that this topic should also be addressed with its philosophical and metaphysical dimensions.
Prof. Tarhan defined the approach he termed “Metaphysical Leap” as an effort to research and reason about the creator to explain the universe's existence.
Interpretation of creation through knowledge, mathematics, and design
Continuing his evaluations through the digital universe model, Tarhan pointed out that the area perceptible to the human naked eye constitutes a limited portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. He explained his own approach to the formation of the universe in the sequence of knowledge, mathematics, design, energy, matter, and life.
Prof. Tarhan stated, “First there is information, in the second stage there is mathematics, in the third stage there is design, geometry. In the fourth stage, energy, physics; the fifth stage, chemistry, matter; the sixth stage, biology, life.”
Compared the mathematics of artificial intelligence with the mathematics of the universe
In his speech, Prof. Tarhan addressed the similarities and differences between artificial intelligence and the mathematical workings of the universe, comparing algorithms, data, and parameters with concepts such as physical laws, matter, energy, space, and time.
Stating that he prepared the comparison in his presentation based on questions he posed to ChatGPT, Prof. Tarhan said, “I got this from artificial intelligence, by asking these questions. I got it from ChatGPT, let me tell you this.”
Prof. Tarhan explained that learning in artificial intelligence occurs through the changing of parameters according to data, while natural processes are considered within the framework of physical laws, and he focused on the topics of initial conditions, uncertainty, and symmetry.
“Just as we cannot conceive of artificial intelligence without humans, we cannot conceive of the universe without an external intelligence”
Stating that artificial intelligence systems operate towards specific goals, Prof. Tarhan moved to the discussion of purpose in the universe through the concept of optimization. Posing the question, “Artificial intelligence does not work without purpose, there is a purpose. But what is the purpose in the universe?” Prof. Tarhan expressed the view that the universe also has a purpose.
Relating this view to the belief in creation, Prof. Tarhan said, “Just as we cannot conceive of artificial intelligence without humans, we cannot conceive of the universe without an external intelligence.”
The brain updates its predictions with new evidence
Explaining the brain's functioning through the Bayesian brain model, Tarhan stated that in this model, the brain is not treated as merely a passive structure that records the external world. Prof. Tarhan clarified the model with the words, “A system where the brain, instead of passively recording the world, constantly makes predictions and updates these predictions with new sensory evidence, with evidence coming from the five senses.”
“If this new evidence is more consistent with the hypothesis that someone is entering, the brain updates the previous prediction,” said Prof. Tarhan, stating that the brain evaluates previous experiences and new information together in this process.
Prof. Tarhan, focusing on the updating of prior expectations with new data in Bayesian inference, also linked this process to his approach to the concept of faith.
“Not self-actualization, but self-transcendence”
Tarhan, also referring to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, focused on the need for “self-transcendence” and “transcendence” in addition to the concept of self-actualization.
Listing areas such as experiences related to nature and aesthetics, religious belief, helping others, and scientific pursuit within this framework, Prof. Tarhan said, “Psychosocial need, the need for transcendence, is a superior need to the need for self-actualization.”
Emphasizing the importance of helping others and spiritual needs in the search for meaning, Prof. Tarhan stated, “Not self-actualization, but self-transcendence, has become much more important in humanity's search for meaning.”
Analogy between Superdeterminism and Levh-i Mahfuz
Prof. Tarhan, also touching upon the concept of superdeterminism, drew an analogy between this concept and Levh-i Mahfuz, a religious concept. Conveying his belief that the knowledge of the universe existed before creation, Prof. Tarhan concluded his words by saying, “If superdeterminism exists, then everything existed first, and its equivalent in the Holy Quran is Levh-i Mahfuz, the master book. Master book means that Allah first created the knowledge of the universe; then He created mathematics, design, physics, everything.”
