Cambrian Explosion: afterthought (Introduction)

by dhw, Sunday, September 29, 2013, 17:04 (4052 days ago) @ David Turell

DAVID: Cells operate from stimuli and responses using information given them by intelligence. They are not intelligent in the senses I have described.-You have not described intelligence in any sense. You have agreed with my definition, and then simply reiterated your firm belief that in spite of cells possessing all the attributes I have listed, they are not intelligent!-dhw: Our brain also sets up automatic responses, and I'm sure there are gradations of response in us too. That does not mean that humans or cells are automata. Once again we come back to definitions, as above.-DAVID: True that we have some automatic responses. We don't think to breathe. But we think to plan and respond. Cells do not think.-There is two-way traffic between our brain cells and the rest. The brain cells send messages to other cells when they want to do something (run, jump, listen, look) and other cells send messages to the brain cells (go to the lavatory, go to sleep, you need food, you need drink). Which is the "thinking" transmitter and which the "thinking" receiver? We are told that there are similar two-way processes within all cells and cell communities, as they exchange information, take decisions, solve problems etc. I have defined intelligence as best I can, and I would define 'think' in a similar way, bearing in mind that there are different levels of thinking: to process and use information, to communicate with other cell communities, to solve problems, to take decisions. I do not include self-awareness as a prerequisite for thought. Please tell me what other attributes you require before you agree to a definition.-dhw: Watson and Crick knew a thing or two about cells, and they were both atheists. How do you think they would have responded to your claim that divine preprogramming "is the only conceivable way"?
 
DAVID: Watson and Crick from so long ago had no idea what we would find out currently about the complexity of DNA and transcription, and imagine how complex it will look in 10-20 years from now. I have no idea what they would think now.-I mentioned them only because you quoted them. My point is that there are experts in the field of cell biology who do not agree that divine programming "is the only conceivable way". You have yourself quoted a figure of around 50% for your fellow physicians. And I still don't know why these and the 90% of atheist/agnostic physical scientists demonstrate that I'm the one clutching at straws!-Dhw Can I tell you the origin [of cellular intelligence]? No. No-one can. If we could, there would be no need for any of our hypotheses and we would not be having this discussion.-DAVID: But the discussion is fun.-As with all the best forms of education, we have fun while we learn.-*****-I have just seen your latest post on the subject, and will reply tomorrow.