Biological complexity: bacteria use electrical signals (Introduction)

by dhw, Sunday, March 13, 2016, 13:54 (3177 days ago) @ David Turell

dhw: You would have to ask those scientists who have spent a lifetime studying the behaviour of cells and have drawn the conclusion that they are intelligent, sentient, cognitive, decision-making beings. However, if you think such questions cannot be answered by studying behaviour (including our own), you will have to admit that one cannot prove humans are free agents and not automatons (free will versus determinism). - DAVID: I am fully convinced I have free will, philosophic debate aside. The plasticity of the brain is proof in the way it responds clearly and accurately to my use of it. - I am fully aware of your being fully convinced of your opinions! But you have no way of proving that the interaction between your “self” and your brain has not been preprogrammed by the infinite chain of cause and effect (which is the basis of your view of cellular behaviour: every action is an automatic response to a cause). However, I am not arguing against free will - I am merely pointing out that your argument that nobody can tell the difference between autonomous and preprogrammed behaviour in cells can also be applied to your own behaviour.
 
dhw: Meanwhile, is there any semblance of proof that 3.8 billion years ago an unknown superintelligence placed a computer programme for all evolutionary innovations, lifestyles and natural wonders in the very first cells?
DAVID: There is no better explanation. - You challenged my hypothesis of the intelligent cell as the driving force behind evolution and asked if there was any semblance of proof. I have returned the compliment. “There is no better explanation” is no answer. Of course there is no proof for either hypothesis, and so there is no point in your challenging mine when your own is subject to the same criticism.