Human Experience to Aliens

I was asked to give a talk to a group of high school students about the nature of the secular humanist perspective. And in order to do that, I thought it would be interesting to first discuss humans from an outsider's perspective. As if describing the human condition to an alien species. This is what I came up with:

Humans are self-replicating systems which have self-referential properties. There are 8.2 billion of these systems that inhabit a spherical object that orbits a binary star system in the Milky Way galaxy.

Humans are a species of mammals, which means that they are warm-blooded vertebrates that feed their young with milk. In terms of physical characteristics, adult humans are typically around 160 cm in height and weigh 80 kg on average. The average human body is composed of about 60 of various organs and systems that perform essential functions such as breathing, digestion, and circulation.

Human bodies have a characteristic shape, with a head at the top, a torso in the middle, and two arms and two legs at the bottom. The human body is bipedal, which means that it is adapted for walking on two legs. Humans also have opposable thumbs, which allows them to grasp and manipulate objects with their hands.

Reproduction is the process by which organisms produce new individuals of their species. In mammals, reproduction typically involves the fusion of a female egg cell with a male sperm cell, which results in the formation of a fertilized egg, or zygote. The zygote then undergoes a series of cell divisions and differentiations, which eventually give rise to a fully formed individual.

Humans reproduce through sexual reproduction, meaning that it involves the fusion of two different types of reproductive cells, the egg and the sperm. However, some mammals, such as some species of bats, are capable of reproducing through a process called parthenogenesis, in which the female produces a fertilized egg without the need for fertilization by a male.

Humans characteristically possess self-awareness. Self-awareness is the ability to be aware of one's own thoughts, feelings, and experiences. It is a fundamental aspect of human consciousness and is a key part of what makes us human.

Self-awareness allows us to reflect on our own mental states and to understand our own experiences. It allows us to think about ourselves as individuals and to have a sense of our own identity. It also allows us to be aware of our own emotions and to understand how our emotions affect our thoughts and actions.

Self-awareness also plays a role in our social interactions. It allows us to understand the perspectives and experiences of others, and to take those perspectives into account in our interactions with them. It also allows us to communicate our own thoughts and feelings to others, and to understand their thoughts and feelings in turn.

DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is a long and complex molecule that is found in the cells of all living organisms. DNA is made up of four different chemical building blocks, called nucleotides, which are combined in specific sequences to form long chains. These sequences of nucleotides contain the genetic information that is passed from parents to offspring, and they determine the characteristics and traits of living organisms.

DNA is a double-stranded molecule, which means that it has two long chains of nucleotides that are twisted around each other to form a helical structure. The two strands of DNA are held together by chemical bonds between the nucleotides, and these bonds are responsible for the stability and integrity of the molecule.

The structure and function of DNA are essential for the functioning of living organisms. DNA is responsible for the transmission of genetic information from parents to offspring, and it is involved in the regulation of cellular processes and the expression of genes. DNA is also the target of many chemical and biological processes, such as mutation and genetic engineering, which can alter the sequence of nucleotides and change the properties of living organisms.

The evolution of humans from lower primates is a complex and fascinating process that has been the subject of scientific study and debate for many years.

The earliest known ancestors of modern humans are members of the genus Sahelanthropus, which lived in Africa around 7 million years ago. These primates had ape-like features, including a small brain and a forward-leaning spine, but they also had some human-like traits, such as the ability to walk on two legs.

Over the next several million years, a number of other primate species evolved and diverged from the line that led to modern humans. These species included Ardipithecus, Australopithecus, and Homo habilis.

Around 2.5 million years ago, the genus Homo emerged, which included several species that were more closely related to modern humans. Homo erectus was the first of these species to exhibit significant differences from earlier primates, including a larger brain, a more human-like pelvis and legs, and the ability to make and use simple tools.

Around 1.8 million years ago, Homo erectus began to migrate out of Africa and into other parts of the world. Over time, they evolved into different species, including Homo neanderthalensis in Europe and Homo floresiensis in Indonesia.

The last common ancestor of modern humans and these other species is thought to have lived around 500,000 years ago. This ancestor is believed to be the species Homo heidelbergensis, which was the first to exhibit many of the characteristics of modern humans, including a larger brain, a more advanced tool-making ability, and a more complex social structure.

From this point, the line that led to modern humans diverged from other Homo species, eventually giving rise to Homo sapiens, or modern humans, around 200,000 years ago. Over the next 200,000 years, modern humans spread across the globe, eventually replacing other Homo species and becoming the dominant form of human on Earth.

The earliest known human civilizations arose in Mesopotamia, Egypt, and the Indus Valley around 4,000-5,000 years ago. These early civilizations were characterized by the development of complex systems of government, writing, agriculture, and trade.

Over the next few thousand years, other civilizations emerged in different parts of the world, including the Maya in Central America, the Olmec in Mexico, and the Shang in China. These civilizations developed their own unique cultures and technologies, and many of them reached high levels of artistic, intellectual, and scientific achievement.

In the centuries that followed, the world saw the rise and fall of many great civilizations, including the ancient Greeks, the Romans, the Persians, and the empires of the Middle East. These civilizations were known for their sophisticated cultures, military prowess, and advances in science, art, and technology.

During the Middle Ages, Europe experienced a period of relative decline, as the Roman Empire fell and the continent was divided into many small, feudal states. However, the later Middle Ages saw the rise of powerful monarchies and the growth of trade and commerce, which laid the foundations for the emergence of modern Europe.

In the 15th and 16th centuries, the discovery of the New World and the rise of global trade brought great wealth and power to Europe, and the continent experienced a period of rapid cultural and scientific development. This period also saw the rise of powerful empires in Asia, including the Ming and Qing dynasties in China and the Mughal Empire in India.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, the world saw the emergence of modern industrial societies as the Industrial Revolution transformed economies and societies around the globe. This period also saw the growth of nationalism and the rise of democracy, as well as the growth of global trade and the spread of European colonial empires.

In the 20th and 21st centuries, the world experienced two world wars and a series of major political and social revolutions. The development of new technologies has transformed economies and societies, and the world has become increasingly interconnected and interdependent.

There are many contradictions and paradoxes in the human experience. For example, one contradiction is the idea that we are both individual and social beings. On the one hand, we have our own unique thoughts, feelings, and experiences that make us individuals. On the other hand, we are also part of a larger social group and are influenced by the people and institutions around us.

Another contradiction is the idea that we are both free and determined. On the one hand, we have the ability to make choices and decisions that shape our lives. On the other hand, our choices and decisions are also influenced by a variety of factors, such as our genes, our upbringing, and our social and cultural environment.

There are also many open questions in philosophy, psychology, and other fields that relate to the human experience. Some of the largest open questions include:

• What is the nature of consciousness, and how does it arise from the physical processes in the brain?
• What is the nature of free will, and how does it relate to determinism?
• What is the nature of moral and ethical values, and how do they guide our behavior?
• What is the nature of the self, and how does it persist over time?
• What is the nature of knowledge, and how do we acquire it?
• Are we alone in the universe?

There are many contradictions and open questions in the human experience, and these contradictions and questions are at the heart of many philosophical and scientific inquiries. These contradictions define what it is to be human and to live in our universe.

In the vastness of our universe, the human mind is a small but powerful tool for understanding the fundamental nature of reality. From the earliest moments of human history, we have sought to explain the mysteries of the world around us and to understand the patterns and connections that govern the behavior of natural phenomena.

In this quest, we have developed a number of different approaches to understanding the human experience. Analytic philosophy and continental philosophy are two different approaches to philosophy that originated in the 19th and 20th centuries. In general, analytic philosophy is characterized by a focus on clarity and logical rigor, while continental philosophy is associated with a more abstract and interpretive approach.

One key difference between the two is their approach to language and meaning. Analytic philosophers often analyze the meaning of words and concepts in order to understand the nature of reality, while continental philosophers are more interested in how language shapes our understanding of the world.

In terms of their methods and styles of argument, analytic philosophers often use formal logic and precise argumentation to support their claims, while continental philosophers tend to be more intuitive and interpretive, relying on close readings of texts and philosophical ideas.

Another difference is their focus. Analytic philosophers tend to focus on specific problems or issues in philosophy, such as the nature of knowledge or the existence of God, while continental philosophers take a more holistic approach, often considering the broader cultural and historical context in which philosophical ideas arise.

The modern idea of secularism arose out of the Enlightenment, a period of intellectual and cultural development that took place in Europe in the 18th century. During the Enlightenment, there was a shift away from traditional religious beliefs and practices and towards a focus on rational thought and empirical evidence.

Secularists argue that the concept of the supernatural and the existence of supernatural beings such as gods or spirits is unfalsifiable, and therefore it should be rejected as unscientific. For example, the existence of a god or gods cannot be disproven through empirical observation or experimentation, and therefore it cannot be considered to be scientific. Similarly, the idea of an afterlife or reincarnation cannot be falsified, and therefore it should be rejected as unscientific.

This shift was driven by a number of factors, including the rise of scientific thinking, the growth of the skeptical movement, and the increasing emphasis on individual liberty and freedom of thought. As a result, many Enlightenment thinkers and philosophers argued for the separation of religion and politics, and for the promotion of reason and empirical evidence as the basis for knowledge and decision-making.

Secularism builds on these Enlightenment ideas, and it is often characterized by a commitment to the separation of religion and politics, and to the promotion of reason and empirical evidence as the basis for knowledge and decision-making. Secularism is opposed to superstition and religious belief, and it is based on the belief that human beings can understand and explain the world using rational thought and empirical evidence, without recourse to religious or supernatural explanations.

The philosophy of science is the branch of philosophy that studies the nature of scientific theories and the methods used to develop and evaluate them. It is a discipline that seeks to understand the nature of human knowledge and the ways in which we acquire and use that knowledge to understand the world around us.

One of the primary schools of thought in the philosophy of science is realism, which is a philosophical approach that emphasizes the existence of objective reality and the truth of scientific theories. Realists believe that scientific theories accurately describe the fundamental nature of reality and that they can be used to make accurate predictions about the behavior of natural phenomena.

The concept of justified true belief refers to the idea that a belief is considered to be knowledge if it is both true and justified. This means that a belief is considered to be knowledge if it is supported by sufficient evidence or reasons and if it accurately reflects the truth about the world. In this view, our beliefs are considered to be knowledge if they accurately reflect the objective truth about the world.

One of the main challenges in defining knowledge as justified true belief is determining what counts as justification. Different philosophers have proposed different criteria for justification, such as sensory experience, logical reasoning, or testimony from reliable sources. These criteria are often debated and contested, and there is no consensus on which criteria are the most appropriate or effective.

Related is the concept of objective reality, which refers to the idea that there is a fundamental, objective truth about the nature of reality that exists independently of our perception or interpretation of it. This idea is based on the assumption that the world exists independently of our consciousness or knowledge of it and that it has certain inherent properties and characteristics that are inherent to its nature.

Objective reality is often contrasted with subjective reality, which is the idea that reality is a product of our individual perception or interpretation of it. In this view, reality is not fixed or objective but rather is constructed by our minds and is subject to change based on our individual experiences and perspectives.

The concept of objective reality is central to many philosophical debates and discussions, particularly in the fields of metaphysics and epistemology. The question of whether or not objective reality exists is a fundamental issue in metaphysics, and it has implications for our understanding of the nature of reality and the role of human consciousness in the world.

The concept of objective reality is closely related to the idea of scientific realism, which is the view that scientific theories accurately describe the underlying nature of reality. Scientific realists believe that scientific theories correspond to the true nature of reality and that they can be used to make accurate predictions about the behavior of natural phenomena.

The cogito is a philosophical concept that refers to the idea that "I think, therefore I am." This idea was first proposed by the philosopher René Descartes in the 17th century as a way of demonstrating the existence of the self.

Descartes' argument for the existence of the self goes something like this: when we think, we are aware of our own thoughts. This means that, in order to think, we must exist. In other words, the very act of thinking demonstrates our own existence. Descartes argued that our thoughts are distinct from the material world, which is subject to doubt and uncertainty. Therefore, the existence of the self as a thinking being is more certain than the existence of the material world.

The cogito is a philosophical concept that proposes that the act of thinking demonstrates the existence of the self and that the existence of the self is more certain than the existence of the material world.

It is generally considered to be justified to assert that our senses exist because they are the basis of our experience of the world. Our senses allow us to perceive the world around us and to interact with it, and they are the foundation of our ability to have knowledge and understanding of the world.

Moreover, the existence of our senses can be inferred from our experience of the world. For example, when we see something, we can infer that our sense of sight exists because we are able to see. Similarly, when we hear something, we can infer that our sense of hearing exists because we are able to hear.

Additionally, the existence of our senses can be confirmed through scientific study. For example, the existence of our senses can be confirmed through experiments and observations that demonstrate the physiological mechanisms behind our ability to see, hear, touch, taste, and smell.

Thus it is justified to assert that our senses exist because they are the basis of our experience of the world, and their existence can be inferred from our experience and confirmed through scientific study.

The nature of reality is a fundamental question in philosophy and science, and it has been a topic of debate and discussion for centuries. There are many different ways of thinking about the nature of reality, and there is no single, universally accepted answer to this question.

One way of thinking about the nature of reality is to consider it in terms of the fundamental building blocks of the universe. According to this view, reality is made up of tiny, indivisible particles, such as quarks and leptons, that combine to form the atoms and molecules that make up the world around us.

Another way of thinking about the nature of reality is to consider it in terms of the fundamental laws and principles that govern the behavior of the universe. According to this view, reality is determined by the fundamental laws of physics, such as the laws of motion, thermodynamics, and electromagnetism, which govern the behavior of matter and energy on the largest and smallest scales.

There are many different philosophical schools of thought on reality, and it is difficult to capture the full range and diversity of these views in a simple statement. However, two of the most important and influential philosophical schools of thought on reality are realism and idealism.

Realism is the philosophical view that the world exists independently of our perception or cognition of it. According to this view, reality is made up of objective, mind-independent objects and facts, and our perception of the world accurately reflects the true nature of reality.

In contrast, idealism is the philosophical view that reality is fundamentally mental or subjective in nature. According to this view, the objects and facts that make up the world are ultimately products of our mind or consciousness, and the world only exists as long as it is perceived or thought about.

A third school, instrumentalism, is a philosophical approach to science that emphasizes the practical value of scientific theories rather than their truth or accuracy. According to instrumentalists, scientific theories are useful tools for making predictions and guiding experimentation, but they should not be considered descriptions of reality. Instead, theories are seen as instruments or tools that can be used to achieve specific goals, such as explaining observations or making predictions about the behavior of natural phenomena.

Instrumentalism is often contrasted with realism, which is the view that scientific theories are approximately true descriptions of the world. Realists believe that theories are more than just useful tools; they are also representations of the underlying structure and regularities of the world. In contrast, instrumentalists argue that the truth or accuracy of a theory is not as important as its usefulness in achieving specific goals.

One of the key ideas of instrumentalism is the concept of theoretical underdetermination. This is the idea that a given set of observations can be explained by multiple different theories and that it is impossible to determine which theory is the true or correct one. According to instrumentalists, this means that the truth or accuracy of a theory is not a meaningful criterion for evaluating its usefulness. Instead, theories should be judged based on their ability to make accurate predictions and guide experimentation.

The scientific method is a systematic process for investigating the natural world and answering scientific questions. This process involves several steps, including classifying phenomena, making observations, developing theories, and testing those theories through experimentation and observation.

The first step in the scientific method is to classify phenomena or the things that are being studied. This involves organizing and categorizing observations and data in order to understand the relationships between different phenomena.

The next step is to make observations of the phenomena being studied. This involves collecting data and evidence through experiments, measurements, and other methods.

Based on these observations, scientists develop theories to explain the phenomena being studied. A theory is an explanation for a set of observations that are supported by evidence and can be tested through further experimentation.

The scientific method involves testing theories through experimentation and observation. This step, known as falsification, involves trying to prove a theory wrong by attempting to find evidence that contradicts it. If a theory is repeatedly tested and not falsified, it is considered to be supported by the evidence and can be considered a reliable explanation for the phenomena being studied. This process allows scientists to develop reliable explanations for the natural world and to answer scientific questions.

Thomas Kuhn was an American philosopher and historian of science who is best known for his concept of the paradigm shift. In his 1962 book The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, Kuhn argued that the history of science is characterized by periodic shifts in the way that scientists think about and understand the natural world. These shifts, known as paradigm shifts, involve changes in the assumptions, concepts, and theories that underlie scientific practice.

Kuhn's theory of paradigms has been influential in the sociology of science, which is the study of the social factors that shape the development and direction of scientific research. According to Kuhn, paradigms are not simply sets of scientific theories, but also include the social and cultural norms, values, and practices that shape the way that science is done.

Kuhn's theory of paradigms also has implications for the philosophy of science, which is the study of the nature, methods, and foundations of scientific knowledge. According to Kuhn, the philosophy of science must take into account the historical and sociological factors that shape the way that science is done, rather than assuming that science is a purely objective and rational enterprise.

Khun's theory of the sociology of science, and power is influential in the study of the history and sociology of science, and has implications for the philosophy of science. It suggests that the development of scientific knowledge is shaped by a variety of social, cultural, and historical factors, and that the philosophy of science must take these factors into account in order to understand the nature and limitations of scientific knowledge.

The philosophy of science is the branch of philosophy that studies the nature of scientific theories and the methods used to develop and evaluate them. There are several schools of thought within the philosophy of science that offer different perspectives on the nature of scientific theories and how they are constructed and tested.

One of the primary schools of thought in the philosophy of science is positivism, which is a philosophical approach that emphasizes the importance of empirical observation and experimentation in the development of scientific theories. Positivists believe that scientific theories should be based on empirical data and observations, and that they should be tested through experiments and observations to verify their validity.

Another primary school of thought in the philosophy of science is realism, which is a philosophical approach that emphasizes the existence of objective reality and the truth of scientific theories. Realists believe that scientific theories accurately describe the fundamental nature of reality, and that they can be used to make accurate predictions about the behavior of natural phenomena.

A third primary school of thought in the philosophy of science is constructivism, which is a philosophical approach that emphasizes the role of human cognitive processes in the development and evaluation of scientific theories. Constructivists believe that scientific theories are constructed by scientists through the use of abstract concepts and mental models, and that they are evaluated and refined through a process of critical inquiry and evaluation.

Some of the most well-known problems and areas of study in the philosophy of science include:

• The problem of induction: This is the problem of how we can justify the use of inductive reasoning to make generalizations about the world based on limited observations. Inductive reasoning allows us to infer general statements from specific observations, but it is always possible that our observations may be incomplete or biased, leading to false conclusions.

• The problem of confirmation: This is the problem of how we can determine the truth of a scientific theory based on empirical evidence. Theoretical concepts and models are often difficult to test directly, and the evidence that supports a theory may also be compatible with alternative explanations. This makes it difficult to determine the truth of a scientific theory with certainty.

• The problem of realism: This is the debate over whether scientific theories accurately represent the underlying nature of reality, or whether they are simply useful models that help us to understand and predict natural phenomena. Realists argue that scientific theories correspond to the true nature of reality, while anti-realists argue that scientific theories are merely human constructions that reflect our own biases and assumptions.

• The problem of demarcation: This is the problem of how we can distinguish between scientific theories and non-scientific theories, such as religious or philosophical beliefs. There is no clear criterion for distinguishing between scientific and non-scientific theories, and the boundary between them is often a matter of controversy and debate.

Experimental measurement of the electron anomalous magnetic dipole moment is considered one of the best precision tests of quantum field theory and scientific method. The AMDM is a measure of the deviation of the electron's magnetic moment from the value predicted by classical theory. In quantum field theory, this deviation is predicted to be very small but non-zero, due to the effects of virtual particles on the electron's magnetic moment.

The high precision of the experimental measurements of the AMDM allows for a very sensitive test of quantum field theory. These experiments have consistently found a good agreement between the measured value of the AMDM and the value predicted by quantum field theory. This agreement provides strong evidence for the explanatory power of the theory.

The agreement found this way is to within ten parts in a billion $10^{−8}$ making quantum field theory one of the most accurate physical theories humanity has ever constructed thus far. The theory has been successful in explaining a wide range of phenomena, including the behavior of fundamental particles and the forces that govern their interactions.

In addition to quantum field theory, the degree of precision achieved in experimental measurements of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation is very high. The CMB is a faint glow of radiation that is left over from the early universe, and it provides important information about the conditions and history of the universe. Measurements of the CMB are typically made using specialized telescopes that are designed to detect the extremely weak signals of the radiation.

One of the most precise measurements of the CMB was made by the Planck satellite, which was launched by the European Space Agency in 2009. The Planck satellite was able to measure the temperature of the CMB with a precision of better than one part in 100,000. This level of precision allowed for a very detailed study of the CMB, providing new insights into the history and structure of the universe.

The agreement between the measured and the theoretical prediction at both the longest length and time scales of our theories, provides further confirmation of the validity of the theory, and supports its use of science as an effective framework for modeling and describing the observed phenemonon of the fundamental forces of nature, and potentially the underlying structure of reality itself.