New Miscellany Parts 1 &:2: evolution, eco, intelligence. (General)

by David Turell , Tuesday, April 29, 2025, 18:34 (2 days ago) @ dhw

DAVID: The fallacy in your argument is the extinct did leave descendants, the surviving species.

dhw: By definition, the surviving species did not go extinct!!! 696 species of dinosaur went extinct, 4 species of dinosaur did not go extinct. Those were the survivors! Now please tell us what constitutes the “real” continuum.

You have memorized one min or example where four dinosaur species went extinct and left bird survivors. Proves my point: a continuum of extinction and survival.

Zombification

DAVID: But God's inefficient evolution did create us.

dhw: If God exists, of course his evolution produced us, and it also produced 99.9% of species that had nothing to do with us. Why can’t you believe that instead of being messy, clumsy and inefficient, he might actually have wanted the 99.9% of species that had no connection with us? For example, because he was interested in seeing what his invention (the intelligent cell) might produce in a free-for-all, though he could dabble if he felt like it, or he was interested in experimenting with new ideas. Again: why do you insist that despite his omnipotence and omniscience he kept producing species and ecosystems he didn’t want to produce?

God always knew exactly what He was doing. He produced everything He wished.

Mind and cosmos

QUOTES: Intelligence may exist and evolve on its own, without emerging within living organisms.

DAVID: In NDE's the consciousness appears to be separate from the brain.

dhw: Yes, but it retains its individual identity, and it usually links up with other individuals as opposed to linking up with some nebulous “property of the universe”. Meanwhile, perhaps you have answers to some of the questions I’ve asked?

The theories come from numerous patient examples of a totally non-functioning brain producing a detailed memory/event.