[MD] Levels in electronic computers

[david buchanan]

Krimel said:
... It is a gross distortion to say that all life is at odds with the force of gravity for example. Life as we know it depends on the force of gravity. The fact that we stand upright and move around does not put us at odds with gravity. The fact that birds can fly puts them in harmony with the air not at adds with gravity. 


dmb says:

Well, yea, it would be a gross distortion to construe all life as opposed to gravity. But that's not what Pirsig is saying. What he's saying is obvious and you're trying to make the obvious sound weird. Consider this little bit of common sense, which is part of my computer's definition of "animal".

"Animals are generally distinguished from plants by being unable to synthesize organic molecules from inorganic ones, so that they have to feed on plants or on other animals. They are typically able to move about, although this ability is sometimes restricted to a particular stage in the life cycle."

Similarly, "animate" means "to put in motion" and it means "bring to life". This is what separates rocks from living things. Rocks can only move when acted upon by gravity, wind, rain or some other physical force. Life forms, by contrast, always involve some kind of motion or movement, even if that just means an internal process like photosynthesis. Sometimes life forms are more conspicuously animated, like when they run, slither, jump, swim, fly, crawl, hop or skitter but the sunflower moves it's "face" to follow the sun and even single-celled organisms will retreat from a hostile environment. Rocks just don't do that kind of thing. 

That's the sense in which the organic level overcomes gravity. Growth is obviously different from entropy and flight is conspicuously distinguishable from falling. Life overcomes the limits of inorganic forces in this way. Life adds a new, less law-like set of processes to the world. It's really that simple. There is nothing weird about such obvious claims.

  		 	   		  
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