Evolution (Evolution)

by BBella , Friday, January 23, 2009, 18:58 (5569 days ago) @ dhw

There are really two problems that arise from your comment. One is linguistic, and I'm simply looking for a starting-point acceptable to all. How about: "Life is the result of a process caused by an unknown force"? - As for me, I believe the quote above is acceptable, as long as it is taken into consideration that, not only is life the result of the process by the unknown force, but life IS the unknown force as well. After all, how can something come from something without being that which it comes from? Everything may look different during it's different processes, if there is an onlooker, but, everything is still the unknown force as well as being from the unknown force. How can it be other wise? 
 
> The second part of the discussion does move us a stage further on. You wrote: "I take the view that what happens just happens. Like an avalanche happens, like a tsunami happens...etc." I take this to mean that once chance has brought about the necessary combination, the laws of nature take over. All the examples you choose ... avalanche, tsunami, hurricane, supernovas, planets ... relate to inorganic matter. Is there no difference in principle between these inorganic processes on the one hand and life, reproduction, organs, senses, consciousness on the other? If there is a difference, what is it? - Again, I would think there are differences in organic and non organic, however so unclear it can barely be named, just as there are differences in air and land, yet again, all are a result of the unknown force as well as of it.