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Old 04-09-2012, 10:09 AM   #827
photon
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chester View Post
The idea that inert matter forms itself such that not only does it replicate itself but that it WANTS to replicate itself, is a phenomenon that would seem to require more answer than, "chance plus time".
Why?

If I had a screen and the small sand falls through the screen and the larger pieces do not, does that mean the small pieces WANT to fall through?

Of if I have some molecules in the right circumstances, they'll self assemble into very specific structures (crystals), does that mean Carbon WANTS to be a diamond? Or water wants to be a snowflake?

Stunning complexity arises naturally from the interaction of a few simple rules, we're not used to seeing it and we can't always intuitively understand it, so our natural inclination is to attribute such things to an Agency.

However to do so without a reason, to just say "it seems to require something more" isn't good reasoning.

As others have pointed out, it's much more than "chance + time", it's easy to underestimate the power of selection.
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