Evolution: more genomic evidence of pre-planning Part One (Evolution)

by David Turell , Sunday, April 18, 2021, 16:08 (1313 days ago) @ dhw

DAVID: How do you know all those excess cells were needed at the time of sapiens appearance? Just because they were there?

dhw: I’ve just asked you how you know they were NOT needed! This is the basic difference between our theories! ... The only clue we have is the way the modern brain works, which is by RESPONDING to new needs. It RESPONDS by complexifying, although the hippocampus has expanded. We do not know of any instance in which the brain complexifies/expands in anticipation of some unknown future requirement. Why do you continue to ignore this argument?

The reason the brain complexifies is that it has extra neuron networks to work with. They are already present so as the brain develops more efficiency of thought a fairly large number can be discarded. I view the brain much as we might consider material transport: a model T cannot carry the same load as an 18-wheeler. This is why I raised the point that the initial lifestyle requirements for early sapiens hardly differed from erectus. The fact that the brain shrunk as it became more fully used, demonstrates design in preparation for future use. All you are proposing is all the new cells were required for what? Evidence it was for little new use at first and major use came later.

DAVID: (...) but it had to appear in early hominin or later homo forms as the brain enlarged and became more complexly wired and arranged as we are in tiered neuron groups. That had to precede the development of language which allowed us to exchange complex abstractions which was followed by full use of the entire new brain form and loss of volume 150 cc and contained neuron networks. You can't realistically explain the excess brain in the beginning any other way.

dhw: You just keep repeating “excess”, but none of the general “history” you have presented means there was excess at any time,

But 150 cc of excess were discarded.

dhw: including our own until enhanced complexification took over from expansion, and then I propose that cells which had been essential in the past were no longer required. Even with your own theory, why would your all-knowing, always-in-control God give us excess cells which turn out to be redundant? […]

The bold tells essential for what? We use our brain to live as best we can. We see the flow of hominin/homo lifestyle go from very simple to highly complex with each step of enlargement, and we find a very high degree of complexity in our brain that has no resemblance to other primates. (Note bold above) Five tiers of frontal lobe neurons, probably evolved from hominin to now with a last very giant sapiens step.

dhw: […] apart from repeating your own preconceptions, you still haven’t given me one logical reason for rejecting this proposal.

DAVID: My rejection is based on your humanized view of what God might do. While you are theorizing you can make God into anything you wish. You never bring up my view of God.

dhw: I have spent years discussing your view of God, whom you can make into anything you wish. Your own humanized view, give or take innumerable fluctuations and contradictions, appears to be that he started out with only one purpose (us), is always in control (except when he is not in control), specially designed every life form, econiche, strategy, natural wonder etc. (99% of which had no connection with humans), must have had good reasons for designing the bacteria and viruses that cause untold suffering and death, preprogrammed or dabbled every development – including our brain – in anticipation of what would one day be required, because he always knows what is coming, and enjoys creating but not in any way that we might be able to understand. Meanwhile, I offer alternative views, but you “never consider him experimenting” etc., and if you never consider alternatives, then apparently that means they must be wrong!

All of your alternatives present a very human God who thinks like you do. Experimenting as if he has no idea of what He wants. He is perfectly capable of planning exactly what He wants as is shown by the fine-tuned universe that allows life to appear when He designs it. Looks like perfect planning to me. In terms of performing creation, He never thinks as you do. His goals are always in sight.