Arguments against Design (General)

by BBella , Tuesday, August 11, 2009, 00:29 (5395 days ago) @ dhw
edited by unknown, Tuesday, August 11, 2009, 00:34

BBella's concept of a possible Universal Intelligence is that it lies within everything, and is continually learning about itself. - I would more emphasize experiencing as much as learning, which could be the same thing, I guess? - > 
> Once again, thank you for your direct answers. I wonder if we could tie this concept in with the interesting discussion that David and Matt have been having about free will. (I'd also like to thank Matt for the brilliant Nietzsche quote, "In Conclusion"...4 August at 03.36).
> 
> If the UI is an outside force, I can quite see that we could have free will ... and this would link up with the concept of God using us for entertainment. (If I may digress briefly, I think this would be far less boring for God than just watching inorganic materials chucking themselves around.) - I don't know, I've placed myself in a UI's place (as much as a human can) and thought about how I could travel at any moment to anywhere in the universe and can see myself getting bored pretty quickly...which then could make for interesting creative spurts I guess. But, still, I'd rather taste a banana than watch someone else taste it, or swim in the ocean rather than watch someone swim...just doesn't seem it would be all that entertaining for very long just observing everything happening and not be able to just jump in and have a go at it. - >However, if the UI is an inside force, which means that you and I are just parts of its conscious self, wouldn't that make our free will an illusion? - Possibly. But using the analogy of the baby in the play pen with the toys and bottle, as long as the baby is fascinated with its effects, etc, then nothing more is needed. The baby needs as much free will as should be given for its age and abilities. We/UI, only have what is needed as we grow...our free will would be just as fascinating for our age, and seems to be doing just fine as we grow. Even if we do have so much free will, or have none, still we are all fairly happy with what we have to be entertained with as long as no one is harming us. As long as there are just so many elements in our play pen then we can only have so much free will. The elements or fabric we are working with is either freeing or imprisoning, one way or another...maybe it's just perspective? But really, can we complain? 
 
> Incidentally, I like the expression "on pause". It's far more promising than my feeble "sitting on the fence"!