Great thread, I signed up just to have a go at adding to this fine discussion.
I don't think I could put the laws of nature better, even though I run a small bio-site.
Using an analogy is a good way to compact all that information about natural selection etc that is mentioned above. If I were to compare each and every gene in your body to a "byte" of information that a computer uses in its daily operations.
All other things being equal....consider a computer with *nothing* on it. It is useless....it has no function in its environment and more importantly, it has no use to us- the user. On top of this - "information is power". If we installed an operating system on the computer - like windows, it would become much more useful, and the data upon the computer would be utilised to become "powerful".
However, a computer does not live. We do. The fact that the computer works means that we can use it to our advantage. Why? Because we, as humans have come to know to that by manipulating the things around us we can use this to our advantage. This is a typical trait of natural selection as mentioned in the above posts.
Compare the working computer with a person. Computers have evolved by humans hand feeding it pre-conceived information....TELLING it how to work. Natural selection works much in the same way, over a much longer period of time- effectively using trial and error.
At one point in time, the "goop" so to put it, was once a simple piece of genetic information that existed as a causality of a chemical reaction. Genetic mutations can be caused by things in the external environment- causing a change in the chemical composition of the "goop".
At that point, it is not natural selection at work.....it is purely the forces of the Earth, so to speak.
.....the only ambiguity I see is WHY would these simple substances "want" to replicate........
Apart from that, this simple chemical "goop" was subject to the forces of its environment etc etc......and the chemical composition of it began to change as it passed from generation to generation. The characteristic of life is to reproduce and survive (as mentioned,why?), so each successive generation alongside the forces of the environment brought about more diverse genetic sequences.....and consequentially, new species.
It is not the genes that are "initiating" this increasing genetic diversity- it is the forces of the external environment moulding us into what we are now. That is the "essentiallity" of it for me. The information, be it a byte or a gene, is merely being passed on as water would do flowing down a river.
It is just an analogy....something for perspective
Plato's cave comes to mind. As does games theory. I'll elaborate about those before I lose my train of thought completely....
Plato's Cave
I'll not write it out, so if you haven't heard of this philosophy, its easily found on the net.
But all in all, we as humans are attempting to "step out of our skin" and look back on ourselves. I think many people find it hard to grasp that we as people, as impersonal as it may sound, are simply a chain of reactions, both in regards to time and causality......the fact that we are intelligently aware that we can change our environment, learn from it, and own an imagination is more of an ego trip in the real world and a fascinating area of science in the scientific world
For me, to round up what I've read here, the title should not be "Darwin's Evolution".......something more like "do you believe in Science or God". Sorry, might be the old cliche, but I think this is where the discussion was inevitably going to lead to !
Games Theory
Here is something controversial for you. Civilization and religion came hand in hand. Religion talks about th past, while civilization, intelligence, learning etc are all about survival and living for the future.
Science came with civilization - the ability to create tools to further our observations about the environment we live in. With time, we have came to the conclusion that studying our past can give us a better understanding of the future
"We have the power within ourselves to begin the world all over again"
Anyway, with science came the theory of natural selection, the world is flat etc....all of which has increasingly been incorporated into our lives as common knowledge, and implemented in the form of "social reform" and technological change.
Religion, -in my opinion-, is diminishing over time. Religion came with civlization as a means of order....at a time when our species would probably not be capable of having, or even comprehending this discussed thread.
Essentially, religion (and government) gave us an "order" that makes us work for the common cause. In modern terms....that is the human race combined. Why? Because we as people have come to know that by helping one another (while at the same time surviving) via altruistic and selfish traits, we can survive and preserve ourselves, our family and race over the long term.
In light of this, science, either consciously or unconsciously, it would seem, has more impetus in our society today due to the fact that gaining a better understanding of it will help us and our species survive. Hear about that 2019 asteroid? Science to the rescue maybe- and how long have we known about asteroids....
This point here about science and religion is that, in compliance with the laws of natural selection, it "seems" like we as a society use science more than religion as a tool of survival. The fact that you write here and ask illustrates this. Something to do with karma I believe..........maybe an area of biology that is not covered all to well yet
Anyway, I know I've totally went off topic most likely.....but I hope it adds to the discussion- i'll check back and hope you all have the answer to the final question
