Different in degree or kind (Introduction)

by David Turell , Tuesday, December 24, 2013, 01:34 (3770 days ago) @ dhw


> dhw: My clear definition of your answer is that cells are preprogrammed automatons, and so God does all the inventing. How, then, according to you can cells have an inventive intelligence? What is "implanted in genetic code"? If you mean independent cellular intelligence, I have always accepted the possibility that your God may have created it. My focus is on how evolution works. But I suspect you are again referring to an implanted programme (i.e. for all the innovations from single cell to humans), in which case the inventive intelligence is God's, not that of the cells.-It is hard for me to understand your confusion. The genome works on implanted information, period. That information allows the genome to try out variations in response to various stimuli and challenges from nature. Natural selection helps pick out the winners. Partly the information pushes complexity. That is why we see convergence everywhere, and a bush of life. -
> dhw: Once more, why would God design six different types of eyes if he only needed one to fulfil his purpose of producing humans? Are you now saying that you and Conway Morris do not after all believe in your divine preprogramming of the first cells with all innovations leading to humans?-I have described above the technique I believe God used in setting up evolution as He did. You refuse to recognize that the key is implantd information which runs the program. It allows for a bush to develop, which includes a half dozen eye types.
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> dhw: I can only repeat that if you insist God planned humans from the beginning, the first cells must have been chock-a-block with programmes for the billions of innovations necessary to lead from single cells to us.-No, Information on how to proceed forward with a variety of adaptive inventions, allowing natural selection to work on choices.There has never appeared to be an attempt at a direct line to human process. i don't know why. It would seem easier. Perhaps God could not do it that way based on the rules of biology in this universe.-> 
> dhw: That is precisely how I see evolution working, theistic or not. Each innovation required an additional act of invention by a new team of intelligent inventors. A good analogy for evolution through the inventiveness of the "intelligent cell". Thank you.-No thank you. Your intelligent cell is not the same conception I have. My cell has two parts: a complex coded genome first with an access to a library of information programs to then proceed as I have described, bit by bit, from one improvement to another mediated by competition between varieties of organisms, but with the best adapted not always winning, resulting in convergence creating the bush.