[John] Now I'd argue that worm, crawling in the dirt, in its choices and adaptations exhibits intelligence in its behaviors. ... That seems like a useful enough definition and and explanation of intelligence and is in fact, THE distinguishing characteristic of life.
[Arlo] I don't think we disagree fully here, John. Of course, "intelligence" is a characteristic of "life" (biological patterns), but I'd say that its only a meaningful concept if we apply it to the behavior evidenced by higher, neurologically complex and (proto-)social species. An earthworm certainly evidences an ability to respond to its environment, but it does not do so "intelligently". It does so "biologically", and only within the specific range of possibility enabled by its complexity. A worm and an amoeba both respond in this exact same manner, in accordance with this repertoire. I know you are going to keep disagreeing, but answer me this: what specifically do you see an earthworm do that a ribosome does not. Not degree, mind you, but something entirely differently. And before you say "respond creatively", give some some specific instances of exactly how a worm "responds creatively" for which there exists no analogous parallel in a ribosome, or proton. [John] I'm very interested in the idea that rudiments of intellection have their genesis in social relations of a certain type. [Arlo] Well, this is my point. Intelligence has its genesis in some rudimentary form of social activity, but this is only possible in species with a certain complexity in neurological development. [John] Well I don't think the levels are created from the bottom up, Arlo. matter doesn't organize itself into life, life organizes matter to its own ends. [Arlo] If life existed before matter, where? How? [John] And on up the scale we go, with the levels above creative of the levels below. [Arlo] So biological patterns preceded, and created, inorganic patterns? [John] Why, to prove how smart we are, of course! [Arlo] Prove it to whom? 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/md/archives.html
