Introducing the brain: general (Introduction)

by David Turell , Wednesday, March 30, 2022, 16:45 (967 days ago) @ dhw

dhw: Mindless obedience is the exact opposite of autonomy.

DAVID: But that is exactly what a self-driving autonomous car does! Follows programmed directions. […]

dhw: You have twisted the quote (which only mentioned the non-involvement of humans) in order to draw an analogy between programmed cars and your concept of programmed cells. I reject the analogy, (a) because I propose that cells are not programmed, and (b) because I challenge you to find a definition of the word “autonomous” which includes preprogramming and obeying instructions. You are making a mockery of language.

DAVID: It is common usage. Self-driving cars have been referred to as 'automatic' which means autonomously to me. Cells run just as the cars do is my point, whatever the words are that we use.

QUOTE (from “King’s English”): “A truly autonomous car would decide on destination and route as well as control within the lanes. An automated car would follow orders about destination and route, and may only adopt some lane-keeping or car-following guidance.” (dhw's bold)
"Nevertheless, I do not believe these differences can be preserved linguistically, even within the profession, the broad misuse and confusion will drown small differences of meaning."

DAVID: Our real battle is about cells and how they work, as you note. My analogy fits my side.

dhw: Thank you for these two clarifications, which to some extent explain the confusion. Since the motor industry has its own special jargon, I take back my vehement disapproval of your use of language. However, what may be “small differences” in the motor industry are colossal differences in the context of our discussion: either cells follow instructions (= automated) or they make their own decisions (autonomous).The one is the exact opposite of the other. I suggest we scrap the analogy!

I've made my point and you yours. They can't think but can communicate with molecules. The only message a molecule can bring is its function, so when it arrives at a new cell it says use me if you wish. The recipient cell recognizes the useful molecule and has an onboard molecule react with it. All rapidly automatic, occurring in millionths of a second, a trillion of times in the body simultaneously, which creates an energy need and life's homeostasis. And the energy arrives by eating something. dhw's wishful God must produce a pacifistic life form. That means theoretically starting with plants, not animals. I leave it to dhw to give us a followup scenario to reach humans as history shows.