Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - A philosophical investigation into the nature and role of intelligence in the cosmos

Lebell · 12-17-2004, 03:27 PM

If I understand you correctly, Art, you are speaking of a greater intelligence that underlies the reason that nature exhibits certain complex behavior (which you do not believe is akin to the traditional concept of God).

But from a scientific standpoint, we see complex ordering all the time. Consider the process of crystalization of an amorphous material. Extremely complex structure can form and yet it can be described easily as a function of the atomic structure of the constituent atoms related to their mass, valence shell electrons and so forth. This micro-ordering then becomes apparent in the macro world through shear repetition, again, easily explainable.

Now if you are postulating an actual intelligence of energy that encompasses the known universe, then we can make two statements; this energy either a) knows of intelligent life within its own structure or doesn't. If it does, the question arises, "why hasn't it contacted us?". If it does not, then we can extrapolate that our science will someday find a way to get in touch with it (a la Rendevous with Rama).

But even if it exists and had some part in our creation/existance, we have no current way of knowing past the current mythos, and thus it devolves to a discussion of religion and faith again.

12-17-2004, 03:27 PM	#13 (permalink)
Lebell Cracking the Whip Location: Sexymama's arms...	If I understand you correctly, Art, you are speaking of a greater intelligence that underlies the reason that nature exhibits certain complex behavior (which you do not believe is akin to the traditional concept of God). But from a scientific standpoint, we see complex ordering all the time. Consider the process of crystalization of an amorphous material. Extremely complex structure can form and yet it can be described easily as a function of the atomic structure of the constituent atoms related to their mass, valence shell electrons and so forth. This micro-ordering then becomes apparent in the macro world through shear repetition, again, easily explainable. Now if you are postulating an actual intelligence of energy that encompasses the known universe, then we can make two statements; this energy either a) knows of intelligent life within its own structure or doesn't. If it does, the question arises, "why hasn't it contacted us?". If it does not, then we can extrapolate that our science will someday find a way to get in touch with it (a la Rendevous with Rama). But even if it exists and had some part in our creation/existance, we have no current way of knowing past the current mythos, and thus it devolves to a discussion of religion and faith again. __________________ "Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." – C. S. Lewis The ONLY sponsors we have are YOU! Please Donate!