What makes life vital (Introduction)

by dhw, Thursday, March 05, 2015, 20:07 (3339 days ago) @ David Turell

DAVID: There is no denying bacteria appear to make decisions; the issue is whether those decisions are automatic based on genomic information or are the result of a sentient response. No one can give a provable answer, it is all a matter of opinion. I simply have concluded my opinion and will stick with it. Obviously you are free to stick with yours.-I am much happier with this acknowledgement that it is a matter of opinion than I am with bald statements such as bacteria are automatons / are not conscious / do not think.
 
DAVID: I can see why you remain neutral on the source of a thinking mechanism. It is still 'thinking' or the appearance of thinking. Information can not appear de novo for conceptual thought is not material. It is based on information to be analyzed and information to do the analysis.-If you believe in the Big Bang, the essence of which is that the universe had a beginning, by definition this has to be information appearing de novo. If the first cause is energy endlessly transmuting itself into matter, whether consciously (theistic) or unconsciously (atheistic), information will also constantly be appearing de novo. Analysis, however, clearly requires some kind of consciousness (or, as you put it, the information to do the analysis), but when, how, and in what form that consciousness came into being, nobody knows. This last comment applies equally to your God and to living organisms.