Intelligence & Evolution (Evolution)

by David Turell , Monday, October 14, 2013, 17:45 (4056 days ago) @ dhw


> dhw: But at least you have now withdrawn your claim that only humans can claim to be conscious. Thank you.-I never claimed that. It was your assumption from my poor explanations.-> 
> dhw: But organisms ARE groups of cells. And just as you believe consciousness emerges from the cooperation of billions of cells that make up the brain, I am suggesting that innovations may emerge from similarly cooperating cells. The whole is greater than the parts. There is not one of the attributes listed above that cannot be applied both to your dog and to cells, individually and in groups.-Now you want "emergent" planning by groups of cells. Cells respond to each other automatically. No brains involved, no consciousness for abstract planning. Planning requires abstract thought. Hunt and peck will not work. The requirements for a kidney are too exact, adjusting sodium levels or pH to the second decimal place.-> 
> dhw: I'm afraid the fact that you believe your theory does not give you the authority to dismiss other theories as poppycock.-My theory is not the cause of my poppycock response. it is my knowledge of cellular biochemistry. You are casting around for a middle ground taht does not exist. 
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> dhw: Then the cell is intelligent after all, so long as we call its intelligence "God" and not "intelligence".-Twisting my thoughts again. The cells contain an intelligent information code, which I ropose is placed there by God. The cells are automatic, with the appearance of being conscious. Life is an emergent property of the cell complexity. REcall the discussion in my new book about the definition of life. A difficult subject unless emergence is invoked.