The simplest explanation? (Evolution)

by David Turell , Tuesday, October 13, 2020, 17:40 (1500 days ago) @ dhw

DAVID: I never objected to Shapiro's theory, but to your gross extrapolation from it of cell intelligence.
[…]
dhw: What gross extrapolation?

DAVID: Those cells he discusses are bacteria.

dhw: Please stop pretending that his theory is confined to bacteria. He has extrapolated from his research and from the research of others that LIVING CELLS AND ORGANISMS ARE COGNITIVE (SENTIENT) BEINGS, and that EVOLUTIONARY NOVELTY ARISES FROM THE PRODUCTION OF NEW CELLS AND MULTICELLULAR STRUCTURES AS A RESULT OF CELLULAR SELF-MODIFICATION.
Your scepticism is no excuse for ignoring his own conclusions and for accusing ME of "gross extrapolation".

DAVID: I know Shapiro's research and I admire it. But I have the right to my opinion as expressed in the thread on gene loss as a speciation cause […]

dhw: Of course you have a right to your opinion, but you do not have the right to accuse me of “gross extrapolation” when you know that I have repeated Shapiro’s theory word for word, and you also know that Shapiro’s conclusions take into account research that is not confined to bacteria. A week ago you wrote: “It simply remains his supposition which, you are correct, follows the thoughts of other researchers”.

Shapiro's theory is the extrapolation and you've bought it.