Cambrian Explosion: more early brains (Introduction)

by dhw, Friday, November 13, 2015, 12:47 (3298 days ago) @ David Turell

dhw: But no, it's not my leap of faith. I offer it as an alternative to your computer/dabbling hypotheses.
DAVID: I'm sorry but I don't see it as an alternative. It strains my credulity. A brain is too complex even in the Cambrian to appear without prior planning by a very developed intellect.
dhw: So that's one of three hypotheses that strain the credulity. A good reason for turning to agnosticism.
DAVID: To the contrary, you are the one straining my credulity. that Cambrian brain requires intellectual planning.-You have already said my hypothesis strains your credulity, and I have agreed that it strains my credulity as much as your two alternatives: the divine computer programme and the divine dabble. 2 + 1 credulity-straining hypotheses = 3 credulity-straining hypotheses. (Even you have to resort to irrational faith before you commit yourself.) -BBELLA: I would have to agree with you here, David. But, as you know, I just happen to believe the "very developed intellect" that planned and created it was an older race of beings that was at one time considered gods by humans.
DAVID: I know your theory.
dhw: And it is no more and no less fantastic than all the other hypotheses, but as we have said before, it only sets the mystery back one stage further: what gave rise to us/to the older race of beings/to whatever gave rise to the older race of beings?-DAVID: And you have no explanation for cellular intellect, which you agree 50/50 on a chance basis, might not exist at all. But I remember you keep offering the possibility that God did it. Why is that? Open mind? Incredulous at all possibilities? I know: picket fence.-The picket fence is the result of the fact that for me NO explanation is convincing enough to justify a leap of faith. Of course I remain open-minded, but I do not see that as something negative.