Cellular intelligence: Animal Algorithms reviewed (Evolution)

by dhw, Wednesday, November 17, 2021, 10:49 (1100 days ago) @ David Turell

dhw: […] in all honesty I must confess that I find the theory more convincing than the idea of your God preprogramming the whole history of life 3.8 billion years ago, or of him popping in to turn legs into flippers, or to give courses to weaverbirds in nest-building.

DAVID: God, the designer can do all of it. And I'll continue asking without God where does cell intelligence come from?

hw: As before, we are discussing whether cells are or are not intelligent. I accept the argument that if God exists, he must have designed it, but then we have to move to the question of where did God come from – and that takes us back to first cause, which may be God or may be an impersonal universe….but we have discussed this over and over again.

DAVID: Note today's entry about cell complexity precluding labs making life.

It tells us absolutely nothing about the possible intelligence of cells:

Theoretical origin of life: made in a lab, impossible
DAVID: in our reality only life begets life. This exposition of the complexity of cells should show dhw how the automaticity of life is necessary.

I have never denied that automaticity is necessary. How else would species and systems remain stable? Once again you are ignoring my constant reminder that cellular intelligence will only be manifested through the ORIGIN of species and systems and through responses to new requirements. Even you admit that these actions are intelligent, but you insist that they were all preprogrammed 3.8 billion years ago or your God pops in to give instructions whenever a new problem arises. Point repeated from “Miscellany”:

DAVID: I think all cell decisions are automatic. No autonomous intelligence.

dhw: You always illustrate your belief in automaticity by referring to established systems. It is the solving of new problems and the ORIGIN of established systems that demonstrate intelligence. I will continue to point this out whenever you try to oppose the theory with your automatic examples.

DAVID: Yes, God's intelligence at work.

As above, then, all problems solved by direct divine dabbling or a divine 3.8-billion-year-old programme for all problems, life forms etc. to cover the rest of life’s history. In all honesty I must confess....back to the first entry of this post.