autonomy v. automaticity (Evolution)

by David Turell , Tuesday, March 13, 2018, 15:23 (2235 days ago) @ dhw

DAVID: As usual you skipped over the need for energy for life to continue from 3.8 billion years ago. And you express no surprise that a so-called meaningless, purposeless evolutionary process produced the human brain. I see purpose, control and appropriate econiches to supply the energy. I see MY God acting in the way I propose. I know I can't convince you.

dhw: As usual you ignore the fact that energy for life to continue has nothing whatsoever to do with your anthropocentrism. Life needs energy, and life has gone on for 3.8 billion years so far, with and without humans, and may go on for another 3.8 billion years with or without humans. And as usual you impose meaninglessness and purposelessness onto my thinking, whereas I am simply challenging your hypothesis that your God created the weaverbird’s nest and millions of other natural wonders in order to produce the human brain. If God exists, of course he has a purpose, but you would rather not discuss it if it means “humanizing” him, and especially if it means challenging your own idea of his purpose. Even if there were no God, I would still see purpose in evolution (survival and improvement), and meaning is whatever we make it. As for surprise at the human brain and indeed all forms of life, I would call it wonderment, whether God exists or not. Please stop putting up straw men of your own making.

Your wonderment should include an amazement at the arrival of the human brain. It needn't be here, but it is, therefore I feel/ know there is reason behind the event.