More about how evolution works: multicellularity (Evolution)

by dhw, Tuesday, November 10, 2015, 18:43 (3087 days ago) @ David Turell

dhw: We are referring to two different subjects. He may support your hypothesis that God planned evolution to produce humans. He does not offer you support for your hypothesis that God preprogrammed everything in the first cells, or God dabbled directly. 
DAVID: No he doesn't get into the method God used at all. His point is that convergence indicates purpose and therefore planning for humans as the highest purpose.-Not having read the book, I can only discuss the points you make. Convergence fits in perfectly with the hypothesis that intelligent organisms work things out independently for themselves in accordance with the requirements of their different environments. The obvious purpose in all cases is to make maximum use of the environment (for survival and/or improvement). In order to justify your belief in a “higher”, divine, anthropocentric purpose, I do wish you and/or Conway Morris would explain why your God found it necessary to organize 25 evolutions of multicellularity in order to produce one species, but I can understand why you'd rather avoid such a question. -DAVID: I agree to all of that statement. Now take God away from your statement and tell me how it might have reasonably happened? I don't think you can.
dhw: I can't tell you how it might reasonably have happened even if I include God. The God hypothesis is no more “reasonable” than any other.-DAVID: That is true, because one must reach for oneself proof beyond a reasonable doubt.-In other words, when you talk rather grandly of “proving God's existence beyond a reasonable doubt”, what you really mean is explaining the reasons for your own subjective convictions. It doesn't have quite the same authoritative ring, does it?