Explaining natural wonders (Animals)

by David Turell , Saturday, May 06, 2017, 19:48 (2756 days ago) @ dhw

DAVID: I agree solipsism is a problem, but I am inside me and I know when and why I change course or respond.

dhw: Correction: you certainly know when, but you cannot be sure that you know why, because you cannot know the complete chain of cause and effect.

I don't care if I cannot follow every biologic change in my neurons. I am fully in control of the conclusions of my intentional actions.

DAVID: Bacterial responses may appear intelligently directed, and if the instructions are in their DNA to act that way they really are automatic. No way around that point.

dhw: Of course there is no way round the point that IF bacteria are under instructions, they really are automatic. And hallelujah, there is no way round the point that IF bacteria are not under instructions, they really are autonomously intelligent.

But it is either-or, nothing else. all one can do is make an intelligent choice and every metabolic step in bacteria can be carefully outlined as molecules automatically react, without sign of mental direction.

DAVID: We are inside of ourselves and I know what I feel. I can never imagine to understand what it is like to be a bat, but I know a bat is not automatic.

Yes, you are self-aware and you know what you feel. However, you could be a self-aware robot unaware that you are being manipulated by instructions in your DNA, just as you are unaware of most processes that take place in your body - at least until they go wrong. NB I’m saying you could be and not you ARE a robot, just as the bacterium could be intelligent and NOT a robot. You can never imagine to understand what it is like to be a bacterium, so how do you know a bacterium IS automatic?

Because all of its actions can be outlined in molecular automatic activity from start to finish.