philosophy of science: meaning and functions (Introduction)

by Balance_Maintained , U.S.A., Wednesday, September 12, 2018, 21:42 (2263 days ago) @ David Turell

TONY: OK, before I answer all of these, I am NOT talking about cells, nor stating that atoms are self-aware. Please don't misrepresent my argument as agreeing with either of those statements.

Before you answer, let me emphasize that I am not deliberately misrepresenting your arguments. I found this whole section nebulous, but in fact the second part actually seemed clear to me, as follows:

TONY: 5: It reached a point where it realized that it could not grow further in isolation (became aware of the possibility of reproduction)
6: It reproduced for the first time. (First direct creation)
7: It helped its spawn grow its awareness.

dhw: This appeals to me, in view of my hypothesis of cellular intelligence! If the first spawn were single cells, it gave them a degree of consciousness.

DHW:You talk of reproduction and spawn, the first direct creation and growing awareness, and you have agreed previously that the first life forms were single cells. If I have misunderstood the logic of this, I’m sorry, but part of our discussion entails clarifying our terms, so do please explain what you meant by the first direct creation, the spawn and the spawn’s growing awareness.

Tony: I'll respond more fully when I am back at my computer, but perhaps the most clarifying statement I can make is this: I agree that the first carbon basedlife were in the form of single called organisms. That doesn't preclude the possibility of life in other forms, such as living energy.

David: I hope you will explain what you mean by 'living energy'.

Ok, sorry about the delay. It's been a busy week.

So, I suppose we start by defining life, something that many can still not agree on. Let's point to some characteristics of living things:

• They are responsive to stimuli.
  
• They reproduce.
  
• They are informationally complex(DNA in carbon based life forms).
  
• They grow in some form over time.
  
• They manipulate energy in some form or another(consume/convert).

You'll notice I left out mention of cells, because it precludes other forms of life, and I also left out birth/death as they are not inherent to the act of living, but merely innate in our understanding of life because we experience no different scenario.

As a original source, energy could become more orderly and complex(grow), and develop the ability to respond. If the original source (i.e. God) created his first spawn, Christ, he would fulfill the other two requirements, thus meeting all the requirements to be called living, without the need to exist in a material form.

The idea of 'fullness' that DHW finds so confusing could be conflated with maturation. Just as how animal young and human youths do not reach their full potential until they have gone through and overcome trials and tribulations, so to must all things grow and learn. By responding to these challenges they grow to 'fullness' or maturity.

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What is the purpose of living? How about, 'to reduce needless suffering. It seems to me to be a worthy purpose.