On 26 May 2009 at 11:18, Steven Peterson wrote: > Hi Platt, > > You said: > > An "urge to survive gene?" Why would such a gene exist? Isn't that the > > question? And why did it "emerge?" > > There isn't any interesting answer about why a particular gene exists. > New genes are created through errors in replicating old genes. (I > don't have the scientific background to say anything about why errors > occasionally occur.)
I and some others are interested in how life (genes) began. I and Pirsig wonder why life forms (genes) have an urge to survive. Pirsig asked: " If life is strictly a result of the physical and chemical forces of nature then why is life opposed to these same forces in its struggle to survive?" (Lila, 11) Interesting question don't you think? > You seem to want a different sort of answer than that. What are your > criteria for a valid answer? Why do you fault science for not finding > an answer in the form you want? Are you sure that the sort of question > you have has a scientific answer? Are you trying to read the > intellectual pattern of intentionality back onto biological genes? Intent to survive seems to built into genes. If not, when did the intent begin? Do you find it illogical for a scientist to claim that life is without purpose, excluding his own? As for the sort of question I have having a scientific answer, I don't expect one. Science, as Pirsig points out, sweep such questions under the rug. But, I do expect answers from those engaged in metaphysics. As always, I could be wrong. Best, Platt Moq_Discuss mailing list Listinfo, Unsubscribing etc. http://lists.moqtalk.org/listinfo.cgi/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org Archives: http://lists.moqtalk.org/pipermail/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org/ http://moq.org.uk/pipermail/moq_discuss_archive/
