Evolution took a long time: C elegans learning (Introduction)

by David Turell , Monday, January 09, 2017, 17:25 (2875 days ago) @ dhw

DAVID: No, you miss my point. The worm clearly modifies its neurons to make new responses. This is how the intelligent responses change. Intelligence requires neurons.

dhw: You wrote that the single-celled organism learns by a different mechanism. That is obviously true, since it doesn’t have neurons. It doesn’t mean that intelligence requires neurons. Your claim that the changes are “probably automatic” at least leaves room for the possibility that they are not automatic, i.e. that they are the product of an autonomous intelligence, as proposed by Shapiro & Co, but as usual you withdraw it in your next authoritative statement.

I will grant you that from the outside bacterial intelligence is either 'intelligence' or intelligently provided plans of responses. Each of us has made a choice.