Cambrian Explosion: another article on early brains (Introduction)

by dhw, Friday, November 20, 2015, 20:59 (3291 days ago) @ David Turell

dhw: Of course they follow patterns, if evolution happened. Every organism inherited patterns from its predecessors, and every innovation had to take place in an existing organism. The patterns are hereditary, but every innovation is a departure from the existing pattern, and it is innovation that drives evolution.

DAVID: If your thought is true, and we know convergence occurs, why does it occur in the same patterns?-Because intelligent organisms are quite likely to come up with similar solutions to similar problems.
 
dhw: I don't see how you can have an in-between semi-programme, semi-dabble or semi-automatic inventive intelligence for INNOVATION.
DAVID: If the innovation must fit guidelines, then it is semi independent or semi controlled, take your pick.-What are these guidelines? The innovation will not work if it stops the organism from functioning, and so clearly the range of innovation is restricted to what an organism can do and what the environment will allow it to do. But a restriction on what can be done is not a guideline for inventing something new. Either the organism invents or it does what it is told. Weasel words like “guidelines” don't explain your “semi”.