Contingent evolution (Introduction)

by Balance_Maintained , U.S.A., Thursday, June 26, 2014, 09:40 (3585 days ago) @ GateKeeper

GK: Let me ask you this.
> > > 
> > > Is it like raising a child or more like "you" making red blood cells?
> > 
> > Tony: Neither and both. It is more like a PID controller. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PID_controller
> > 
> > The parameters and destination (survival in this case) is set, from then on, it adjusts within the parameters. If "you" are low on red blood cells, or low in iron, "you" will crave iron rich foods and eat it. If you have learned something is bad, you will pass that information on to your child. In both cases, you are still operating inside a set of parameters, and the actions are deliberate and with purpose. I do not discard DHW's idea of cellular intelligence either, which may account for much if we consider that they make 'survival' choices as well, even if in a more limited fashion.
> 
> GK: neither and both, although true, would have to be made "more tangle" for mass use. Do you think it is possible for you to pear your answer down? Thanks for the wiki, but if I don't know what is being said that would indicate I need to back out.-You gave me two options, neither of which encapsulated what I was trying to say, but both of which contained elements of the answer. Neither are completely correct, both are partially correct. The example of the PID controller was proposed as a replacement. -In a PID controller, the programmer and the person controlling the system(parents) set parameters that are correct and good, goals that should be striven for and limits that should not be crossed, the controller ("YOU") struggles against outside forces to try and maintain progress within those constraints. If the constraints were not set, things would vary wildly and spin out of control. If freedom of action was not allowed, then the controller could not adapt and would not be able to fulfill its purpose. Both the "parents" and "you" from your example are required, but neither are the complete answer individually.

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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.