[MD] LC Comments

[Dan Glover]

On Sun, Jul 11, 2010 at 4:55 PM, Horse <horse at darkstar.uk.net> wrote:
>  Hi Magnus
>
> On 11/07/2010 21:09, Magnus Berg wrote:
>>
>> Yes, when you start thinking in these lines, you get to a point where
>> there's simply no way out, without adjusting the levels as described in Lila
>> that is. Pirsig for example says that the border between the inorganic and
>> biological is drawn by DNA. Stuff that has DNA is biological, stuff without
>> it is not. Ok, simple enough, but way too simple. Because that would mean
>> that only stuff with DNA can become intellectual, and would make any
>> attempts at AI futile. But is that really so unthinkable, that we some day
>> learn what makes the human brain so smart, and make ourselves a similar
>> device? Then what? When that happens, we must rethink the biological border,
>> but why not do that now? What's the harm? The DNA border is soo arbitrary,
>> earth-centric. Should really a universal metaphysics contain such local
>> processes. Isn't it very presumptuous to assume that all life in the entire
>> universe is based on DNA?
>
> DNA is information about life - it's not life itself. Biological patterns
> are self-replicating perpetuating patterns which emerge from inorganic
> patterns so I don't see any reason why life can't exist on a computer.
> Carbon based life uses DNA to transmit information about how to build and
> replicate living entities from the simplest single-celled creature up, so
> there is no reason to suppose that other alternate life-forms (not
> necessarily based on carbon) can't use something similar to DNA to transmit
> information about how build and replicate alternate forms of life.

Dan:

Right now NASA has a probe in orbit around Saturn. Researchers say
they have gathered enough information to infer the possibility that
some "thing" is breathing hydrogen on the surface of the moon Titan,
even though the temperature is some 300 degree below zero. It is
altogether possible some life form has adapted itself to use liquid
methane the way we use water. Who knows? It may not use DNA. We might
not know for centuries, though.

So, until some type of life is actually discovered and documented that
doesn't use it, DNA seems to be one trait inherent in every life form
on earth. It seems like a good boundary between the inorganic and
biological levels. Maybe there are other boundaries too.

I don't know enough to speculate on artifical intelligence. But I
don't see why the MOQ would have anything to say about it, one way or
another, or why it should. I like what Horse says about life existing
in places where we might not normally think of it existing, like in
computers. And there is no reason to believe the MOQ cannot accomodate
such notions. I'll just make it up as I go along, right Magnus? ;)

Seriously, if it won't, throw it out. But before we throw it, lets
make sure we get it right.

Dan