[MD] Emergence of Purpose

[ian glendinning]

Case I agree the Myxobacter swarming is much closer to mammalian
zygote development ... that's what's really weird (and interesting)
IMHO.

I put the example up for people who were sceptical that emergence was
a real phenomenon, not really to start a debate about the difference
between different emergent situations, between people who already get
it :-)

Oh well, never mind.
Ian

On 8/9/06, Case <Case at ispots.com> wrote:
> [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?
>
>
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