[MD] Emergence of Purpose

[Case]

[Ian]
Case. I'm not saying bird flocking (and insect swarming and fish
shoaling) are not interesting effects, with some elements of emergence
....

I wanted to highlight the level of complexity where the emergent
effect is no longer simply a collection of identifiable individuals -
a different "animal" almost - but the difference is really one of
human scale perecption.

Looking at flocking of higher animals you would still look at the
flock and say "oh look at that interesting flock of birds"

If you looked at a swarm of Myxobacter in some lifecycle states, you
would say "oh look at that strange little mushroom"

[Case]
Regardless of the fact that I have seen flocks of starlings that came close
to looking like one big giant flying creature, you are correct. But I think
the same principles are at work. Another example for me at least would be
the human zygote. After the human egg is fertilized the first few
iterations, up to four, I believe, the cells are identical cells but past
about four some are inside and some are outside. This fact alone means
different factors influence further development. Each cell divides and
assumes a role based on its relationship to the other cells around it. You
are of course referring to something even more primitive but the same sorts
of principles effect the molecules in our cells. They interact with the
other molecules in their environment in complex ways because their
environments are complex.

Kinda? Maybe sorta like that?