And I Thought I Was Human

The last human in the universe must battle unfathomable alien intelligences—and confront the truth about humanity—in this ambitious, galaxy-spanning debut “A good old-fashioned space opera in a thoroughly fresh package.”—Andy Weir, author of The Martian “Big ideas and believable science amid a roller-coaster ride of aliens, AI, superintelligence, and the future of humanity.”—Dennis E. Taylor, author of We Are Legion Most days, Sarya doesn’t feel like the most terrifying creature in the galaxy. Most days, she’s got other things on her mind. Like hiding her identity among the hundreds of alien species roaming the corridors of Watertower Station. Or making sure her adoptive mother doesn’t casually eviscerate one of their neighbors. Again. And most days, she can almost accept that she’ll never know the truth—that she’ll never know why humanity was deemed too dangerous to exist. Or whether she really is—impossibly—the lone survivor of a species destroyed a millennium ago. That is, until an encounter with a bounty hunter and a miles-long kinetic projectile leaves her life and her perspective shattered. Thrown into the universe at the helm of a stolen ship—with the dubious assistance of a rebellious spacesuit, an android death enthusiast on his sixtieth lifetime, and a ball of fluff with an IQ in the thousands—Sarya begins to uncover an impossible truth. What if humanity’s death and her own existence are simply two moves in a demented cosmic game, one played out by vast alien intellects? Stranger still, what if these mad gods are offering Sarya a seat at their table—and a second chance for humanity? The Last Human is a sneakily brilliant, gleefully oddball space-opera debut—a masterful play on perspective, intelligence, and free will, wrapped in a rollicking journey through a strange and crowded galaxy.

The field of artificial intelligence (AI) has grown dramatically in recent decades from niche expert systems to the current myriad of deep machine learning applications that include personal assistants, natural-language interfaces, and medical, financial, and traffic management systems. This boom in AI engineering masks the fact that all current AI systems are based on two fundamental ideas: mathematics (logic and statistics, from the 19th century), and a grossly simplified understanding of biology (mainly neurons, as understood in 1943). This book explores other fundamental ideas that have the potential to make AI more anthropomorphic. Most books on AI are technical and do not consider the humanities. Most books in the humanities treat technology in a similar manner. AI and Human Thought and Emotion, however is about AI, how academics, researchers, scientists, and practitioners came to think about AI the way they do, and how they can think about it afresh with a humanities-based perspective. The book walks a middle line to share insights between the humanities and technology. It starts with philosophy and the history of ideas and goes all the way to usable algorithms. Central to this work are the concepts of introspection, which is how consciousness is viewed, and consciousness, which is accessible to humans as they reflect on their own experience. The main argument of this book is that AI based on introspection and emotion can produce more human-like AI. To discover the connections among emotion, introspection, and AI, the book travels far from technology into the humanities and then returns with concrete examples of new algorithms. At times philosophical, historical, and technical, this exploration of human emotion and thinking poses questions and provides answers about the future of AI.

Ancient Greeks endeavored to define the human being vis-à-vis other animal species by isolating capacities and endowments which they considered to be unique to humans. This approach toward defining the human being still appears with surprising frequency, in modern philosophical treatises, in modern animal behavioral studies, and in animal rights literature, to argue both for and against the position that human beings are special and unique because of one or another attribute or skill that they are believed to possess. Some of the claims of man’s unique endowments have in recent years become the subject of intensive investigation by cognitive ethologists carried out in non-laboratory contexts. The debate is as lively now as in classical times, and, what is of particular note, the examples and methods of argumentation used to prove one or another position on any issue relating to the unique status of human beings that one encounters in contemporary philosophical or ethological literature frequently recall ancient precedents. This is the first book-length study of the ‘man alone of animals’ topos in classical literature, not restricting its analysis to Greco-Roman claims of man’s intellectual uniqueness, but including classical assertions of man’s physiological and emotional uniqueness. It supplements this analysis of ancient manifestations with an examination of how the commonplace survives and has been restated, transformed, and extended in contemporary ethological literature and in the literature of the animal rights and animal welfare movements. Author Stephen T. Newmyer demonstrates that the anthropocentrism detected in Greek applications of the ‘man alone of animals’ topos is not only alive and well in many facets of the current debate on human-animal relations, but that combating its negative effects is a stated aim of some modern philosophers and activists.

What convinces us of the truth of a point of view? Why do we find it difficult to understand or accept differing perspectives? What are the inner foundations of our knowledge? In these concentrated and aphoristic lectures, Rudolf Steiner speaks of twelve main philosophical standpoints, and the importance of comprehending each one of them. Appreciating the variety of world-views not only sharpens our thinking and makes it more flexible, but helps us to overcome a narrow-minded one sidedness, promoting tolerance of other people and their opinions. The future of philosophy rests not upon defending one single perspective and refuting all others, but in learning to experience the validity of all points of view. Steiner goes on to explain how each philosophical standpoint is coloured by a particular ‘soul mood’, which influences the way we pursue knowledge as individuals. He characterizes the work of several thinkers in this way, throwing light on their unique contributions to human culture. Through such insights into the true nature of human thinking, we are led to understand the quality of cosmic thought, and how the human being is a ‘thought which is thought by the Hierarchies of the cosmos’. This revised translation is complemented with an introduction by Robert McDermott, editorial notes and appendices by Frederick Amrine and an index. Trans. by C. Davy & F. Amrine; Intro. by R. McDermott; Four lectures, Berlin, Jan. 1914, GA 151

Individuals often view "culture" as activities beyond their interests, associating the concept with exclusivity or high art. To be cultured is often synonymous with engaging in physical expressions of art, like opera, a classical music concert, a museum exhibit or a theater performance. While culture does indeed extend to all these things, it is the internal processes of memory, language, imagination and thought that frequently have more significance than any real-world activity. Culture is day-to-day life, ideas, identity and perception. This book investigates the ways in which thought and belief have inspired collective human endeavors and traditions. It brings the act of thinking into focus, outlining its effect on civic development while exploring the history of cultural epistemology. Spanning time periods and geographic regions, chapters derive new meaning from the connections between thought, belief, tradition and the cultures they create. They explore how active thinking leads to group identity and document the multigenerational ideas and attitudes that have strengthened cultural memory.

Two characteristics of human beings as a species are: the elaboration of our thought through language and symbolism, and the pluralistic nature of our systems of social organization. This book shows how these two characteristics are related by determining the conceptual structures that are fundamental to human thought and social organization.

In the vast landscape of human cognition lies a fascinating array of quirks, biases, and fallacies that shape our perceptions, decisions, and interactions with the world around us. From the seemingly innocuous choices we make in our daily lives to the grand decisions that shape the course of history, our minds are influenced by a myriad of cognitive shortcuts and pitfalls. Welcome to a journey through the labyrinth of the human mind—a journey that delves into the fascinating realm of cognitive biases and mental fallacies. In this book, we explore over 60 of these intriguing phenomena, shedding light on the subtle ways in which our brains can lead us astray. As we embark on this exploration, it's essential to recognize that the human mind is a marvel of evolution, finely tuned to navigate the complex world in which we live. Yet, despite its remarkable capabilities, our minds are not immune to error. In fact, they are prone to a host of biases and fallacies that can distort our perceptions, cloud our judgments, and undermine our decision-making. Why do we often overestimate our abilities and underestimate risks? Why do we cling to our beliefs in the face of contradictory evidence? Why do we find it challenging to resist the allure of instant gratification, even when it comes at the expense of long-term goals? These are just a few of the questions we will explore as we journey through the fascinating landscape of cognitive biases and mental fallacies. By understanding these phenomena, we gain invaluable insights into the workings of our own minds and those of others. Armed with this knowledge, we can begin to recognize the subtle ways in which biases and fallacies shape our thoughts and behaviors. We can learn to question our assumptions, challenge our beliefs, and make more informed decisions in our personal and professional lives. Moreover, by shining a light on these cognitive quirks, we can cultivate a greater sense of empathy and understanding towards others. We come to realize that we are all susceptible to the same cognitive biases and mental fallacies, regardless of age, gender, or background. In recognizing our shared humanity, we can foster deeper connections and build bridges of understanding in an increasingly divided world. So, join me as we embark on a journey of discovery—a journey that will challenge our assumptions, expand our horizons, and illuminate the hidden workings of the human mind. Together, let us explore the fascinating world of cognitive biases and mental fallacies, and emerge with a newfound appreciation for the complexity of human cognition. Happy Learning! Gunjan Sharma