Colby College philosophy professor Ben Baker tackled the question “What does it mean to be human?” on Friday, November 7, in a convocation address to the student body and faculty.

The question is this year’s theme at Loomis Chaffee, and Professor Baker began his talk with a friendly disclaimer: “I hate to be the one to break it to you, but your school theme this year is impossible. ‘What does it mean to be human?’ I’m quite convinced this cannot be given a singular answer.”

Delving into complex and ponderous topics, however, is the arena of philosophers as well as an intention of the school theme. Professor Baker was up for the challenge. 

“Perhaps the best thing would be to puzzle over the question a bit with you …,” he told his audience. “My hope is that we find some important parts of why it is so impossible to pin down what it means to be human, and that this can help us get a clearer view of what kind of human we want to be.”

In addition to teaching philosophy at Colby, Professor Baker is a member of Colby’s Davis Institute for Artificial Intelligence. His research focuses, in part, on how we understand and interact with Artificial Intelligence. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Brown University with concentrations in philosophy and economics, a law degree from Yale Law School, a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Pennsylvania, and a graduate certificate in social, cognitive, and affective neuroscience. He is also an accomplished dancer, with a background in hip hop choreography, and he has studied what our minds do while we dance. 

In his talk at Loomis, Professor Baker explored some characteristics that are often used to distinguish humans from other animals — and qualities used to distinguish humans from machines, or Artificial Intelligence. These traits included creative expression through writing, painting, and other art forms; communication of ideas, emotions, and experiences through dance; proving of theorems; creation of tools; and investigation of the natural world. 

But there is another, essential layer to what it means to be human, he said: one’s ideas constantly change as they encounter other perspectives. “Being human involves acts that express an individual’s beliefs and values, as informed by a community and its cultural context,” Professor Baker said, adding that even this dynamic definition has flaws.  

And so, as he had predicted, puzzling over the question “What does it mean to be human?” led to more questions. 

Professor Baker did make some recommendations based on all this puzzling. As we wrestle with what makes us human and what kind of human we each want to be, he offered this advice: 

Learn to adapt: “Chances are you’ll benefit if you give some effort and attention to learning how best to adapt to emerging technology,” he said.

Be discerning: “Remember that how you engage with digital media influences how you see yourself, and subsequently how you express yourself. Along with this, keep in mind that there are vested interests in holding your online attention.”

Consider cultural context: “Pay attention not just to the technology we use, but to the cultural perspectives shaping that technology.”

Beware of simple answers: “Make your meaning, and remake it and remake it, in terms of your silliness, your pain, your embraces, your dreams, your community, your past, your puzzlement — and I don’t know what else.”

At the close of his address, Professor Baker offered one final wish for his listeners: “May your confusion be generous, and your curiosity stubborn.”