spidergoat made a statement, i wanted to see where he got the idea that chemicals could think.
personally i find the concept beyond ridiculous.
In a manner of speaking. . . I don't.
I believe Abiogenesis is not only possible, but probable. Yet, you would be mistaken if you were to assume that I am. . . what do you call it, a "naturalist"? Someone who believes that all the mysteries of the universe can be explained in purely mechanistic terms by our current scientific understanding?
I believe we should make a distinction between consciousness, and awareness. Do chemicals, matter, radiation, electricity, and their various interactions have awareness in our temporal reality? Nah. . . I'd say they don't. However, I am acutely aware, as many are, that they are conscious.
IMO, it may be possible that the difference between our existence in the temporal plane, and existence in a transient, or ethereal plane, is simply awareness, not consciousness. Hence, all of the laws of science that we have come to know and regard as true would operate w/o fail in our reality. Yet, thought creates, according to those laws. Accordingly, everything manifests some sort of consciousness.
Abiogenesis? Certainly. But, more mysteriously, how did the conditions become so perfect? How did the sun be just right size and temperature? And how was it that the Earth got to be where it is? And those organic compounds, how did they get to be in the right place at the right time?
For those of you that want to claim, oh. . . it's just chance? Sure, if that makes you feel better, if that's the world view you wish to take, I don't fault you. I am sure it makes you feel more powerful, more in control of your little universe. The scientific manipulation of matter and energy is VERY powerful, with immediate and generally predictable results. However, in my world? I feel more empowered knowing that I can control my world simply by thinking and controlling my thoughts as well. I know that there are deep truths to what is happening going on beyond what my five senses can calculate.
It's all one folks. We're all one. It's one grand conscious machine. We have become special because we are AWARE of it though, not just because we are merely conscious.