Life's biologic complexity: Automatic molecular actions (Introduction)

by dhw, Thursday, October 13, 2016, 12:40 (2963 days ago) @ David Turell

dhw: Bacteria have plenty of ways of solving problems, as illustrated by the important article on lateral gene transfer (many thanks), the potential for which seems unlimited. You have now twice conceded one can conclude that they react autonomously (elsewhere you wrote: “bacteria can solve problems of survivability on their own[/b]”). That is all I ask for: acknowledgement that cells/cell communities do not have to be preprogrammed or divinely dabbled with if (theistic version) your God has provided them with the intelligence to act autonomously.

DAVID: I do agree with you that the abilities bacteria have in HGT and in the presence of alternative metabolic pathways many ways to respond to stimuli and environmental changes. I don't see how that implies they have innate intelligence. It may look that way to you but to me it can all be automatic.

I am happy to concede that it “can be” automatic. What I don’t like is your constant insistence that it IS automatic. Your posts are riddled with this dogmatic assertion. If behaviour looks intelligent, and if scientists do tests and conclude that it is intelligent, I am prepared to believe that at the very least it might be intelligent.