Natures wonders: trees induce ants to protect them (Introduction)

by dhw, Monday, September 25, 2017, 13:27 (2614 days ago) @ David Turell

dhw: In other words, it is obvious that organisms have the autonomous ability to make changes to themselves, without any instructions or interventions from your God (though he may have given them that ability in the first place). Thank you. The only remaining – but also leading – question, then, is the extent to which this autonomous ability can produce its own adaptations and innovations.

DAVID: We know they adapt but remain the same species. We do not know if this can lead to speciation. It appears not.

dhw: When I say we do not know the extent to which this autonomous mechanism can produce its own adaptations and innovations, I mean we do not know if it can lead to speciation. That is the leading question. And that is why this explanation of speciation is a hypothesis. “It appears not” is totally gratuitous. Nobody knows how speciation (broad sense, as opposed to different species of finch, dog etc.) has occurred.

DAVID: We see species, therefore, speciation occurred. Some of us believe God did it.

Another agreement. Today is a red letter day! Now we agree that bacteria are conscious, and that organisms have an autonomous, possibly God-given mechanism through which they can make changes to themselves without any input from your God. Therefore “God did it” could mean that he did it by providing cells/cell communities with the intelligence to create ALL the adaptations and innovations that have taken place throughout evolution.