Cell Memories (Identity)

by dhw, Monday, July 14, 2014, 12:12 (3784 days ago) @ David Turell

Dhw: The theory of the “intelligent cell” is based on the research done by people such as Margulis, Shapiro and Albrecht-Buehler. It is they who argue that cells are “sentient beings” which act intelligently. [...] I'm not prepared as you are to say they're wrong. 
DAVID: I'm sorry, but for me cells act automatically with each other, and I am convinced that an intelligent source provided the information by which they automatically operate as a group of cells in an organ.
dhw: Knowledge hath no greater restriction
Than the mind with strong conviction.-DAVID: In both my books I reserved the right to read and develop my own theories. I know the material they have reviewed, and I can quote for you, but I won't, just take my word for it, Ph.D.s from the ID group of folks, feel just like I do. I thoroughly believe in intelligent design. Frankly, your theory makes no sense to me from my background of study, but as I have my theory you may certainly have yours.
-Of course you have every right to develop your own theories. So does everyone else. The intelligent cell is not “my” theory, but that of the scientists I have referred to. It does not in any way contradict the theory of intelligent design, because it does not identify the source of cellular intelligence, which could be your God. The evolutionary argument I am putting forward (based on Margulis and Shapiro - I don't know Albrecht-Buehler's views) is that cooperation between intelligent cellular communities may account for the innovations that have driven evolution onwards. My theist version would be that God designed cellular intelligence so that cells would combine in a vast variety of ways leading to the higgledy-piggledy richness of the evolutionary bush. I don't know why this should make no sense to you, when you are fully aware of the research carried out by Margulis and others. The difference between us therefore has nothing to do with ID as such. The difference lies in identifying what your God may have designed, and in your belief that from the very start he planned evolution to end up with humans.