cellular intelligence (Evolution)

by dhw, Tuesday, July 25, 2017, 13:25 (2676 days ago) @ David Turell

DAVID: Information can include instructions for plans of action. The builder acts upon the architectural plans and his workmen automatically construct. In this way a cell reads instructions I(information) and its parts automatically produce the required protein products.

dhw: Your analogy simply repeats your own belief that intelligent cellular behaviour means God issuing instructions or providing the plans, and cells automatically obeying them (I think most builders and workers would object to being called automatons!). But that is the whole point at issue. I am proposing that cells work out their own “plans”/ “instructions”, using information (i.e. known facts) about themselves and their environment, and I see the sentient, cognitive, communicative, cooperative, decision-making processes required for design and the implementation of design as attributes of intelligence. Perhaps for the sake of clarification you would now give us your own definitions of information and intelligence.

DAVID: I don't think I can be any clearer than my previous statements. Information implanted in cells are plans for conducting active living processes and the instructions for action. Information in the cell allows it to follow the genome's layers of codes and conduct its living actions. The appearance of 'cellular intelligence' is our interpretation of the resulting cellular actions we observe.

Since you don't want to define the two terms, let’s forget all this stuff about “intelligent information” and stick to the basics, which are perfectly clear. Cells/cell communities act intelligently. You believe they are robots following God’s instructions. I propose that they have an autonomous intelligence of their own (possibly designed by your God). Both versions are “our interpretation”, and neither of us can prove the other wrong.