Different in degree or kind: animal minds (Introduction)

by David Turell , Tuesday, January 05, 2016, 01:15 (3246 days ago) @ dhw

dhw: So your arguments don't make logical sense to you, but you reckon your God thinks as you do.-That is not what I said. My arguments are logical to me, but you keep probing God's logic and I don't think we humans can.-> 
> dhw: The duckbilled platypus is here but obviously not required.-And why isn't it? I've seen a wild one in Australia. They are cute and part of the balance of nature.-> dhw: and by definition all species are different in kind. -I thought you believed in evolution. Adler considered all animals different by degree due to evolution, except humans who are different in kind.
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> dhw: You have missed the point. If we are not the only life, that does not mean God does not exist. He could easily have experimented elsewhere.-I can accept that point, but if we are the only life, it is more likely that God exists.
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> dhw: I still don't understand how the specially, divinely designed weaverbird's nest (plus the parasitic wasp and jellyfish and the ”hundreds of other examples”) provides “consumable energy requirement plant or animal” for humans.
> DAVID: I admit I don't know either, but my method of analysis, described above, doesn't require it.
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> dhw: Perhaps the reason why you don't know is that it doesn't make sense and so there has to be another explanation.-I can't give an exact reason for each odd lifestyle, but still go back to a necessary balance of nature. 
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> dhw: As a mere human being, may I suggest it is more logical than the suggestion that the weaverbird's nest is essential for the production and feeding of humans though you haven't a clue why.-As a mere human, let me note that weavers alone are never essential for us to exist. the whole wild bush is as a balance of nature. If you don't believe in a balance, as I've suggested before, ask the Australians how they messed up their continent with foreign animals being brought in.
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> dhw:You have admitted that your ”logical view” concerning the weaverbird's nest is not logical (how can it be if you can't fit it into your hypothesis?)-Back to balance of nature.-> dhw: Human logic and science have so far failed to solve all the mysteries we have been discussing, and so you must either join me on the fence or, like the materialist atheist, dispense with logic and commit yourself to faith until the answers are known - which may never happen.-It will come with scientific discovery. when we finally recognize how complex life is, then the chance appearance will not be an option for consideration. You and I may not live that long.