Where is the Plan Stan?

[lucaspa]

Originally posted by seebs
Having had that exact experience, I've noticed that I almost always need to make a plan. 

 When you make a plan, how do you do it? I submit that you make up several different plans in your mind and then test them against the environment of what you want.  Those plans that don't fit the environment are discarded, those that do kind of fit are then modified and the modifications are tested. 

I submit that you make you plan by by Darwinian selection.  But the variations and selection occur in your mind rather than in physical objects.  Much like I design these sentences by Darwinian selection, going all the way back to when I was a baby and making random sounds, selecting the ones that got a positive response from my environment.

 

[Brimshack]

Actually, I think this thread is an interesting piece of performance art. But by John's criterion, I doubt that God would find it beautiful.

 

[JohnR7]

Originally posted by Brimshack
Actually, I think this thread is an interesting piece of performance art. But by John's criterion, I doubt that God would find it beautiful.

It maybe interesting the way men develop their plans. The real question is God a part of those plans. Or even more, are we sacrificing whatever we may want, in order to follow God and His plan for us and our lives.

 

[lithium.]

Originally posted by JohnR7
It maybe interesting the way men develop their plans. The real question is God a part of those plans. Or even more, are we sacrificing whatever we may want, in order to follow God and His plan for us and our lives.

Why would god need to be part of plans like building a house or bridge?

 

[seebs]

Originally posted by lucaspa
 When you make a plan, how do you do it? I submit that you make up several different plans in your mind and then test them against the environment of what you want.  Those plans that don't fit the environment are discarded, those that do kind of fit are then modified and the modifications are tested. 

I submit that you make you plan by by Darwinian selection.  But the variations and selection occur in your mind rather than in physical objects.  Much like I design these sentences by Darwinian selection, going all the way back to when I was a baby and making random sounds, selecting the ones that got a positive response from my environment.

It's not really that similar to Darwinian evolution. I make informed decisions based on observed weaknesses in a current design; that's not Darwinian.

 

[seebs]

Originally posted by seesaw
Why would god need to be part of plans like building a house or bridge?

Well, if He stops enforcing the laws of physics, what do you think happens to the bridge?

 

[lucaspa]

Originally posted by JohnR7
The real question is God a part of those plans. Or even more, are we sacrificing whatever we may want, in order to follow God and His plan for us and our lives.

John, before you can unanimously get to these questions, you have to answer two others:

1. Does "God" exist?

2. Does "God" care whether or not we follow "his" plan?

You should be asking your questions in a theology forum, not a science forum.

 

 

[lucaspa]

Originally posted by seebs
It's not really that similar to Darwinian evolution. I make informed decisions based on observed weaknesses in a current design; that's not Darwinian.

It's not?  First, you see that the previous design is not fitting the environment.  Next, how do you make "informed decisions"? What are those decisions and how did you derive them?

Do you make modifications of the current design in your head to correct the weaknesses? Do you start from scratch?  How do you "inform" your decisions?  Is the information current and previous testing against the environment?  IOW, have you kept the successful designs in memory and use only them, not start from scratch at all the designs that have failed previously?

 

[lithium.]

Originally posted by seebs
Well, if He stops enforcing the laws of physics, what do you think happens to the bridge?

I don't think that would ever happen. I know what you are saying, but I don't think JohnR7 was talking about that.

Johnr7:

It maybe interesting the way men develop their plans. The real question is God a part of those plans. Or even more, are we sacrificing whatever we may want, in order to follow God and His plan for us and our lives.