autonomy v. automaticity (Evolution)

by dhw, Wednesday, January 24, 2018, 14:17 (2493 days ago) @ David Turell

dhw: No, this does not help me to see your point. I am not denying that some “Darwin scientists” try to squeeze their findings into preconceived schemata, just like some theist scientists. The scientists I quote believe that cells are intelligent. Please give me a reference in Darwin to indicate that he believed in cellular intelligence, and please tell me what preconceived Darwin schemata their belief fits into,

DAVID: They firmly adhere to methodological materialism in their science.

Please give me a reference in Darwin to indicate that he believed in cellular intelligence. Belief in cellular intelligence does not in any way confine anyone to methodological materialism. On the contrary, that criticism is far more applicable to your insistence that the actions of cells and cell communities are purely biochemical. You have left out what followed in my sentence: “...bearing in mind the fact that my own hypothesis allows for the existence of God.” Darwin’s theory of evolution also allowed for the existence of God, as he expressly stated over and over again.

dhw: If it fits your theory perfectly that God gave organisms the means to work out their own solutions, as opposed to preprogramming all the solutions himself, I doubt if there is an English-speaker in the whole wide world who would interpret that as meaning you believe in preprogramming.

DAVID: I said my usual preprogrammed IM, which acts in the present, not 3.8 billion years ago programming.

Of course intelligence acts in the present. It is present in the organism, enabling it to solve its problems, except when it fails to do so and the organism dies! Your alternatives have always been direct dabbling or a 3.8-billion-year-old programme for every innovation, lifestyle and natural wonder passed down by the first cells to every organism that ever existed. If you now recognize how much more logical it would be that what was passed down was the autonomous God-given (theistic version) ability (IM) to work out solutions as and when problems arise, then hallelujah! If, however, you now wish to withdraw your historic agreement to my hypothesis and go back to your old beliefs - preprogramming or dabbling - then please say so, and we'll move on.