Convergence or divergence? (Introduction)

by dhw, Saturday, September 07, 2013, 12:05 (4096 days ago) @ David Turell

dhw: The fact that different organisms come up with similar solutions to the same problems is not in the least surprising once you accept that there is a form of intelligence at work in every case. -DAVID: Universal intelligence as far as I am concerned.-I was referring to our theory of the "intelligent cell". Convergence involves individual organisms coming up with similar solutions. That can only mean each organism has its OWN intelligence, regardless of whether there is a UI that designed the intelligence in the first place.-dhw: We see a similar phenomenon in many of our human activities, as different minds working separately on the same issues come up with similar ideas. But I don't see why it's convergence that is "highly suggestive of design".-DAVID: When you see the example of six different types of eyes created by living matter it strongly suggests there is planning hidden in DNA.-Each eye suggests an intelligent invention. Six different eyes suggest six intelligent inventions by six "converging" intelligences. They all strongly suggest intelligence within the DNA. If that is what you mean by "planning", I agree, but I suspect you are referring to a single universal planner who is mysteriously both within and without DNA. That's different.-dhw: Two intelligences thinking alike are no more suggestive of design than one intelligence doing its thinking. Whether intelligence per se is the product of inexplicable design, inexplicable chance, or inexplicable "panpsychist" evolution is of course the question we never stop asking. -DAVID: It is really the issue that those are questions that you never stop asking. I'm very satisfied where I am in my theories.-Dawkins is also very satisfied where he is in his theories. I am not satisfied with either form of satisfaction, which is why this website is devoted to discussion and not mutual backslapping!