Clever Corvids: using tools (Introduction)

by David Turell , Wednesday, September 02, 2015, 22:16 (3151 days ago) @ dhw

dhw: The “emergence” of thought from chemical interactions is another explanation - with the product being greater than the sum of its parts. But if this is so for humans, it can also be so for bacteria, even without a brain.[/i]
> DAVID: I'm of the firm opinion that thought requires neurons.
> 
> dhw: And quite clearly there are many experts in the field who disagree with you, which is why I always find the firmness of your opinion so puzzling!-As I explained to Romansh, I was trained as a bio-mechanic in medical school. As a result I am very conversant with the function of kidney cells. They do amazing things on their own and in response to nerve and chemical (hormone) stimulation. So much so that blood tests for those items regulated by kidney cells stay in tight ranges, better than the thinking neurologist can provide with his dialysis machines. Granted these cells don't have to scrounge for food along with their other tasks, but I equate those cells abilities with the tasks required of bacteria to maintain independent life. In medical school there was nary the thought that kidney cells think. -On the other hand Shapiro (whose work I much admire) is immersed in the mono-cellular world, and I would love to meet with him and challenge his statements about bacterial intelligence, based on the biochemistry of cells in the multicellular world. After all multicellularity arose from his world and his favorite cells. I don't think there is much if any change in those intelligent cellular reactions. Evolution is a continuum. I firmly stand by my reasoning. I am sorry you are so puzzled.