More about how evolution works: multicellularity (Evolution)

by dhw, Monday, November 09, 2015, 12:58 (3300 days ago) @ David Turell

DAVID: In the past we have discussed a possible 'inventive mechanism'. Conway Morris' convergence is his attempt at that concept. Living organisms have invented the same thing many times over as his book illustrates.
Dhw: Again, I am happy to accept convergence, to which most of your post is devoted. ... If, as a theist, he does not specify his belief in your 3.8-billion-year computer programme for all innovations or that all 25 evolutions of multicellularity were directly dabbled by his God, you cannot call on him for support. -DAVID: No, he doesn't tell us how it is done, but he believes in humans as the purpose, as I do. I don't know how it was done.... so? Of course he supports me! -We are referring to two different subjects. He may support your hypothesis that God planned evolution to produce humans. He does not offer you support for your hypothesis that God preprogrammed everything in the first cells, or God dabbled directly. You don't know how it was done, but you insist it was one or other of these methods, and you also insist it was not done by cellular intelligence. My point is that if Conway Morris doesn't offer his own hypothesis as to how it was done, he cannot be said to support yours against mine.-DAVID: If the instructions are within the organism for inventions, then they invent. Remember I think the odds are 90% those instructions exist.
dhw: The invention is done by the ”mind” that issued the instructions. The odds are 100% that the “instructions” exist, since the inventing took place. The question, as always, is where the instructions came from: your God's 3.8-billion-year programme, his direct intervention, or an autonomous intelligence which he may have invented. -DAVID: I agree to all of that statement. Now take God away from your statement and tell me how it might have reasonably happened? I don't think you can.-I can't tell you how it might reasonably have happened even if I include God. The God hypothesis is no more “reasonable” than any other.