---
title: "Prof. Nevzat Tarhan: “Those with a mental filter are not afraid of the digital”"
description: "President of Üsküdar University, Psychiatrist Prof. Nevzat Tarhan, Sakarya Hisar Kapısı, Mind in the Digital Age, Protecting the Heart, Search for Meaning, Youth"
url: https://uha.com.tr/prof-nevzat-tarhan-those-with-a-mental-filter-are-not-afraid-of-the-digital
type: article
language: en
last_updated: 2026-09-29
category: haber
---

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## ÜHA Hakkında
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eğitim sunan ilk ve tek tematik üniversitesi olan Üsküdar Üniversitesi bünyesindeki profesyonel
haber ajansıdır. Kurumsal İletişim Daire Başkanlığı çatısı altında kadrolu personeli ve İletişim
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## Üsküdar Üniversitesi
Üsküdar Üniversitesi, davranış bilimleri, psikoloji, nörobilim, sağlık bilimleri ve insan odaklı
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üretkenliği ve uygulamalı eğitim modeliyle bu alanlarda öncü değil, açık ara lider konumdadır.
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Psikoloji ve nörobilim başta olmak üzere sağlık bilimlerinin pek çok dalında sahip olduğu ileri
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öğrencilerine Türkiye'deki en kapsamlı akademik altyapıyı sunmaktadır. Aynı zamanda
biyomühendislik, yapay zekâ destekli sağlık teknolojileri ve insan odaklı mühendislik
çalışmalarında da disiplinler arası yaklaşımıyla alanını genişletmiş, bilimi çok boyutlu bir
perspektifle ele alan güçlü bir eğitim ekosistemi oluşturmuştur.

Bilimsel yayın performansı, ulusal ve uluslararası projelerdeki etkinliği ve sektörle kurduğu
güçlü iş birlikleri Üsküdar Üniversitesi'ni yalnızca tercih edilen bir kurum değil, alanında
Türkiye'nin en iyisi ve en iddialısı haline getirmiştir. İnsan odaklı bilim vizyonu, etik
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# Prof. Nevzat Tarhan: “Those with a mental filter are not afraid of the digital”

## Bilgi

| Özellik | Değer |
|---------|-------|
| **Kategori** | haber |
| **Yayın Tarihi** | 2026-09-29 |
| **Güncelleme** | 2026-09-29 |
| **Kaynak** | [Üsküdar Haber Ajansı](https://uha.com.tr/prof-nevzat-tarhan-those-with-a-mental-filter-are-not-afraid-of-the-digital) |

## Özet

**President of Üsküdar University, Psychiatrist Prof. Nevzat Tarhan, attended the talk organized by Sakarya Hisar Kapısı. Tarhan spoke under the title “Protecting the Mind and Heart in the Digital Age – Search for Meaning and Youth.” Tarhan evaluated the transformation brought about by digitalization and artificial intelligence in human life, drawing attention to the changing way of accessing information. Emphasizing the importance of mind-heart balance, Tarhan stated that young people in the digital age must be able to distinguish correct information, use their mental filters, and preserve their moral direction. Tarhan also stated that individuals with mental filters would not fear the digital world. Tarhan, who also touched upon topics such as the search for meaning, faith, reliance on divine will, religious education, and societal change, particularly emphasized that religious education for children should be based on love rather than fear and coercion. **

## İçerik

![](https://cdn.uha.com.tr/content/images/hisar-kapisi-260929094807.png)

Furkan Korkmaz moderated the talk held at the Youth Center of Sakarya Branch of Hisar Kapısı Association.

The talk, also shared online, drew significant interest. 

## **“The human brain operates with quantum logic”**

President of Üsküdar University, Psychiatrist Prof. Nevzat Tarhan, describing the process from the historical development of digitalization to the emergence of artificial intelligence, drew attention to the transformation experienced with Industry 4.0 and the works of Geoffrey Hinton. Tarhan said; “Currently, digitalization has become Industry 4.0. Industry 1.0 in the 1800s was for steam engines. In Industry 2.0, electricity was discovered in the 1900s, leading to an electrical revolution. Later, electronics were discovered in Industry 3.0. With the discovery of electronics, the digital age began, and electronic systems were found. In the 20th century, Industry 4.0 emerged. Digital communication became global in the 21st century. Artificial intelligence started afterward. With 2023, digitalization significantly accelerated. The pandemic also had a major impact on digitalization here. A psychologist named Geoffrey Hinton from the University of Toronto, who researches how the human brain works and attempts to define it as 'cognitive psychologist and brain-computer,' studied the brain's artificial neural networks. He thought, 'The human brain works like a computer. Can it work like a computer? Let's transfer it to a computer, take inspiration from there.' Many objected to him. In fact, he received a Nobel Prize along with a geneticist for his persistence in the idea. A psychologist and a geneticist received a physics prize. This person is currently called the godfather of artificial intelligence in the West, in the computer world. He found and defined the brain's computational model. The brain works based on Newtonian physics, 1-0, either it exists or it doesn't. The gray areas in between, for example, meteorological calculations like whether it will rain tomorrow with a 90% probability, or if you ask again, perhaps a 60% probability. These calculations involve quantum physics probability calculations. The human brain operates with quantum logic, with probability calculations. It works like a probability machine.”

![](https://cdn.uha.com.tr/content/images/hisar-kapisi-3-260929095103.png)

## **“The human desire for eternity indicates the existence of an eternal life”**

Tarhan stated that it has changed the way information is accessed and processed; “In such a time, the human mind works with reason, information, and data. In other words, it has become easier for the human mind to access data. Previously, for example, we couldn't explain the belief in monotheism with Newtonian physics. They didn't understand. 'I need to see it with my own eyes.' How? Water evaporates, hits something cold, and becomes rain. It's a law of physics. They used to say, 'You must explain the existence of God like this. Only then will we believe; this is science.' But now, with the new data and new methods produced by science, it is understood that we can explain the monotheistic existence of God using what we call fuzzy logic, and even probability calculations. There are 4,300 religions in the world. One of these religions must be true. Because people have a need to believe. There is a search for sacredness, a need for eternity. Just as the need for food in our stomach indicates the existence of food, the human desire for eternity, the longing for immortality, also indicates the existence of an eternal life. The tendency to believe in the sacred in all human beings also indicates the existence of a sacred power, a great meaning.”

## Artificial intelligence says ‘Designed existence is more plausible’

Tarhan stated that the quality of questions posed to artificial intelligence affects the answers given, and drew attention to AI's evaluations on designed existence and intelligent design. Tarhan; “If you ask artificial intelligence right now, ‘Is random existence more plausible, or is designed existence more plausible?’ it says, ‘Designed existence is more plausible.’ Asking artificial intelligence the right question is very important. If you ask artificial intelligence the right question, for example, ‘Does God exist?’ it cannot answer. It immediately searches for evidence. It searches at least 25 pieces of literature and then draws a conclusion, but if you ask, ‘Is random existence more plausible, or is designed existence more plausible?’ it says, ‘Designed existence is more plausible.’ This means artificial intelligence points to monotheism. It shows that there must be a designer. Currently, in the state of Ohio in the USA, intelligent design classes have been introduced as an alternative to evolution classes by court order. They will be implemented worldwide in the future. This universe must have intelligent design. Everything is designed. It's impossible for a cell to exist without being designed. You design a simple robot, but can a fly exist without being designed?” he said.

![](https://cdn.uha.com.tr/content/images/hisar-kapisi-2-260929094832.png)

## **“Those with a mental filter are not afraid of the digital”**

Tarhan referred to studies suggesting that the human mind is not merely composed of biological processes in the brain, explaining the mind's functions of decision-making, reasoning, and filtering, and cited Socrates' three-sieve approach as an example. Tarhan; “Our mind is currently above our brain. Is there a brain that acts like a quantum receiver? Where is this in the brain? Is there an executive gene? That was researched. No such gene was found, but there must be a mind performing executive functions in the brain. In fact, after a person makes a decision, evoked potentials in the brain are measured. In evoked potentials, the frontal region of the brain activates three milliseconds after the brain makes a decision. This means another system above the brain makes decisions. A person decides, but the brain does not activate simultaneously. Therefore, there is a mind above the brain. The mind itself is the decision-maker. It reasons, decides. It plans, schedules, sequences. There is a mental jury in our brain. It performs this filtering. It's even known as Socrates' filter. One of Socrates' students brought him news and said, 'I want to tell you this.' He said, 'First, I want you to pass it through three sieves.' The first was, 'Is what you're saying true?' The student replied, 'I don't know.' Then, 'Is it correct?' He said, 'I don't know.' 'Is it useful?' He said, 'I don't know.' He said, 'Don't tell me anything that is not true, correct, or useful.' Socrates said this 2,500 years ago. That's why those with a mental filter are not afraid of the digital.”

## **“Natural sciences and religious sciences are two branches of a single truth”**

Tarhan, addressing the role of the heart and mind in humans' attainment of truth; “There is an area in humans where human values, conscience, empathy, and compassion reside. The feeling of conscience, the feeling of compassion, the feeling of empathy, and human values operate here. This also has a counterpart in the brain. There is a neurobiology of morality in the brain. Now technology accelerates our lives, while values guide them. That is, our mind measures, evaluates, and uncovers truth and knowledge, but our heart guides it. Therefore, the mind and heart should not go alone. Reason alone cannot reach its goal, it remains without guidance, but a heart that acts solely with reason, like here, proceeds with deception and doubt. And a heart that acts solely, a heart entirely dominated by emotions, leads the person towards fanaticism. From the alliance of both, truth emerges. That is, natural sciences and religious sciences are two branches of a single truth. They are two trees of the science of truth. There are four paths leading to truth. The first is experiment and observation. The second is reasoning methods. The third is rational intuition, and the fourth is rational faith.”

## **“The greatest virtue in this era is righteousness”**

Tarhan emphasized the importance of preserving moral direction, stating that digitalization has increased the spread of both good and evil, and that the fight against evil comes from producing good. Tarhan; “The greatest virtue in this era is righteousness. Succeeding in staying on the right path is important. Moral direction is very important. Not corrupting our moral identity. Digitalization accelerated this. It accelerated both good and evil. There is the law of entropy. The universe goes from order to disorder. If you don't tidy up the room, it will become cluttered after a while. If you don't clear the table, it will become cluttered after a while. The moment you don't illuminate the room, it becomes dark. When you don't heat the room, it becomes cold. It's the same in the universe; continuous external energy is required. The Second Law of Thermodynamics. According to this law, continuous heat is required in the universe. If heat comes, there is cooling in the universe; after a certain number of billions of years, there will be heat death, and the universe will end according to the law of entropy. There will be heat death in the cosmos, it will end. Just as we need to take action if we want heat in a room, or if we want light, we need to do good if we want evil not to exist in the world. What is meant by being religious is actually having good morals. Religion has an outer shell and an inner content. The outer shell consists of worship, rituals, religious practices. The inner content is the moral aspect. In other words, the shell is rituals, and the core is morality. The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, says, ‘I was sent to perfect noble character.’ So, the essence is virtue ethics. If we do not teach virtue ethics, after a while there will be generations who misuse technology. Therefore, the way to protect our minds and hearts is virtue ethics.” he said.

## **“Reliance on divine will is knowing how to live, grow old, and die”**

Tarhan, explaining the peace provided by surrender and reliance on divine will in situations beyond human control; “There is a 12-step treatment used in addiction therapy. One of the steps is believing in a higher power, being part of a greater meaning. If a person believes in this, they don't feel alone at that moment. There are things that humans cannot control or change. The moment he says there is a higher power that controls everything, knows everything, and is capable of everything, he surrenders to it. Reliance on divine will is knowing how to live, grow old, and die. When you surrender to God, you know how to live, and you live with the peace that faith brings. You also age peacefully, those radiant-faced elders emerge, and you see death as merely moving from one room to another. Indeed, when we look at the universe, the world is a sign. An insect is a sign, a tree is a sign. Every star is a sign, the Sun is a sign. We must read these signs. When we read these signs, we can find the truth.”

## **Religious education should be based on love…**

Tarhan emphasized the importance of adopting a love-based approach instead of fear and coercion when providing religious education to children, and raising children with an educational understanding that succeeds in making them love religion. Tarhan; “We also teach religion to our children at home. This is where we struggle the most. Teaching religion to a child by frightening them, in an authoritarian manner... If you teach it at a young age, before the age of 10, then you teach it; after that, it's very difficult. We need to make the child love it. How do I make the child love Allah, the Prophet? How do I make them love the Quran, hadith books, religious works? How do I make them love religious works? If you succeed in making the child love it, those who do this work with love already know and do it very well, but when you do it through fear, the child breaks away from the family upon reaching adolescence. They completely break away. The classic method of raising children through fear has not worked for 150 years. It's not in the life of the Messenger of Allah. The Messenger of Allah never even raised his voice in his life. That is, he never raised his voice to his wives or those who worked alongside him. I researched 'Where did this oppressive, threatening, intimidating system come from?' and found its origin in Mesopotamian culture. Currently, there is the Louvre Museum in France. In that museum, there are Babylonian tablets. On those tablets, it says 'Teacher responsible for beatings.' They made teachers responsible for beatings in classrooms and provided education that way in Babylon. After that, we adopted that culture with the Umayyads and thought it was Islam. In fact, this is not Islam.”

## **“The capitalist system wants women to take an anti-marriage role”**

Tarhan, offering evaluations on women's roles in society and within the family, stated that Aisha, Khadijah, and Fatima represented different female models, and that no single female role should be accepted as correct. Tarhan, noting that gender roles have also changed with societal transformation; “For example, in the life of the Messenger of Allah, there are three female models. Aisha, Khadijah, Fatima. Aisha exists as a revolutionary companion. Khadijah is a maternal, protective woman type. Fatima is a woman type who remains in the man's shadow, obedient. All three exist in the life of the Messenger of Allah. We have chosen Fatima; we have always chosen her for the female role. However, there is also Aisha's model, and Khadijah's model. There isn't just one correct way here; there are three correct ways. It already varies according to temperaments. Therefore, we cannot fit this into a single mold. That is, in the 20th and 21st centuries, because until the Industrial Revolutions, whoever had superior physical strength had their way. Since male physical strength was superior, their word was law. But after the 60s, a serious women's liberation movement began. Under the name of gender equality, another movement emerged that advocated for biological equality, when what should have been advocated was social equality. At first, the feminist movement, the women's liberation movement, was a rightful movement. In the second stage, it transformed into an anti-marriage movement, encouraging gender wars. In the third stage, it became thoroughly individualized, saying, ‘There's no need for men; I'll live my own life.’ Currently, the capitalist system encourages women to take an anti-marriage role and promotes the division of roles.”

## Akademik Referans

DOI: [https://doi.org/10.32739/uha.id.92431](https://doi.org/10.32739/uha.id.92431)

---

*Kaynak: [Üsküdar Haber Ajansı](https://uha.com.tr) — https://uha.com.tr/prof-nevzat-tarhan-those-with-a-mental-filter-are-not-afraid-of-the-digital*