Different in degree or kind (Introduction)

by David Turell , Tuesday, November 05, 2013, 01:24 (3822 days ago) @ dhw


> dhw: The gap is huge whether you call it degree or kind. I agree that none of the gaps are bridged by simple evolutionary processes. That's why we have rejected Darwin's random mutations and gradualism, and have opted for Gould's punctuated equilibrium. There have clearly been jumps, but that is no reason to suppose that they were caused by the intervention of a mysterious, unknowable, hidden, self-aware whatever-it-may-be. We don't know the cause of the Big Bang, the origin of life, the cause of the Cambrian explosion, or the cause of human consciousness. They are a mystery which is not solved by substituting another mystery. Atheists have offered an equally mysterious alternative, and my panpsychist "third way" is subject to the same criticism. The evidence does not point to any of them. We don't know, we may never know, so it's all a matter of faith, and much as the various parties hate to admit it, none of these faiths has any scientific basis. They do, however, provide us with endless material for discussion!-But here is where I disagree. I think the facts you listed really do point to a mysterious, unknown, hidden, etc.,etc., etc. You have left out the issue of agency. There must be a first cause. Can you answer the most important question of all, 'why is there anything?', with panpsychism? Is that the first cause? Talk about mysterious!!