Cell Memories (Identity)

by David Turell , Wednesday, July 16, 2014, 01:42 (3782 days ago) @ dhw

dhw: The evolutionary argument I am putting forward ...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.-Your theory as stated is attempting to have cell intelligence cause a cooperation between them to create advances in complexity. My only comment is that I think the intelligence is in the information coded into the genomes of the cells. We may have a disagreement as to the origin of the information. I strongly doubt it developed by chance and natural selection. That genome information is the 'intelligence' in the cells. I think cells act automatically, but I think the information contains a 'drive to complexity' the code for which is not yet uncovered. I know your thinking originates from pan-psychism theories. I differ, as you note, in that I think the information is a strong guide, and as a result the cells cooperate with each other under strong controls, and never on their own.- Davies and I agree. The arrival of sentient humans who can unravel the workings of the universe is an extremely significant outcome of evolution, one that raises many philosophic questions. 'How' is one issue, but 'why' is a much more important point. Chance? In my view, no way. Work backward from there and it makes a strong case for theism or even a case for deism. I don't see any case for atheism. Only if one insists upon absolute proof (impossible) does agnositicism appear. So some of us develop a faith, and some do not. Personal choice.