Theory Introduction Page
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ã 2003
The Universe is understandable to us because it and we are part of
the same orderly process. The existence of order has the greatest importance
when we are considering the cause and means by which the universe operates.
Having order means there are predictable patterns of operation. The idea that
something is predictable conveys the meaning that order had to have been
established before anything else occurred. It is the origin of the
establishment of order and its connection to intelligent life that is being
sought for in this analysis.
Three parts of this order are physics, life and intelligence. I am
using the word physics to refer to the unknown natural laws of mechanical
operation of the universe. Current theoretical physics does not offer us these
laws. Even when the true laws of mechanics have become established they will
form the lowest level of scientific understanding of the operation of the
universe. However, the true laws will provide the beginning of the means for
demonstrating that the primary cause of mechanical action is also the cause of life
and intelligence.
Current theoretical mechanical physics, or mechanics, is the
adoption of artificial laws of motion for a part of the operation of the
universe. This practice of theoretically separating vital universal phenomena
is artificial. Mechanics, life and intelligence must have a common universal
nature. We begin the process of understanding by identifying separateness of
properties, and then complete understanding by establishing unity of
properties. There are levels of understanding that are passed through along the
way. They cannot be demonstrated to exist as separate spheres of activity. When
I speak of them individually, it is only for the purpose of defining their
prominent traits for introductory purposes. It is my intention to demonstrate
that motion, life and intelligence are not fundamentally unique from one another,
but rather that they are inseparably unified.
The first level of understanding is being pursued as theoretical
physics. Theoretical mechanical physics has been granted premier importance in
defining the operation of the universe. However, it cannot do this because
mechanics cannot define or even show a connection to life and intelligence. All
meaning for theoretical physics consists of supposition about the causes of
action. Theory is composed of the philosophies of theorists. It consists of
unproven mysterious sources of force credited with causing matter to change its
velocity. It is imposed upon the mathematical formulas that describe empirical
evidence.
The concept of fundamental force tends to dull curiosity and
displaces the need for finding provable reasons why this activity occurs. The
invention of mechanical ideas supplants what should be a continuing thorough
scientific search for the cause of motion. This is unfortunate because
mechanics gives only a very rudimentary perspective on what is occurring. It
involves only the prediction of changes of velocity by mathematical means.
Motion is a phenomenon that is an indispensable part of all the universe.
Mechanics, life and intelligence all rely upon motion.
Physics theory, relying upon sources of force, should not be
relied upon in the analysis of the nature of the universe. Its usefulness is
inherently limited to solving problems involving changes of velocity. Its
arithmetic solutions should involve only distance and time. Its theory should
be viewed as an expediency allowing physicists to speak of cause and effect
without having to explain cause. If we wish to predict ‘how far a ball will
fly’ or ‘how long it will fly’ we use physics. The questions of ‘What makes the
ball fly?’ and ‘Is there a reason why the ball is flying?’ are beyond the
abilities of physics. These are questions whose answers are a part of
understanding the full nature of the universe.
The second level of operation of the universe is life. Life is
identified as the second level because its existence is traced down to levels
of development for which it is difficult to show its evidence. Levels below our
recognition of life are commonly studied from a mechanical perspective. In
other words, at this level molecules are described by mechanical functions. A
fundamental force radiating from a source called electric charge is said to
cause the most important activity. The behavior of molecules is not credited
with being evidence of life or intelligence.
We are given no understanding of a mechanical process that can
cause life. We are left with hollow answers for the evolution of life. Consider
the empty meaning of the explanation that: ‘The source of biological novelty is
genetic mutation arising when the DNA blueprint for life is subtly altered by
imperfect copying or through the impact of an ultraviolet ray with a gene.’ How
can random alterations of a design plan improve the design? All improvements
require many coordinated simultaneous changes, and the ability of their effects
to work together toward a complex, meaningful purpose. How do molecules acquire
purpose? How do molecular variations advance the development of purpose?
There is a misstep that occurs so easily it can seem to make
sense. Physics has identified fundamental mechanical forces for the purpose of
explaining why all action in the universe occurs. Its perspective on the atomic
and molecular scale is that electrical force is the means of evolution of complex
matter. It is generally accepted that life occurs at a higher level of
complexity and that intelligence appears at an even higher level.
The misstep occurs because we observe what we identify as
electrical force linking matter together. We see it leading to complexity that
leads to life and intelligence. It is an easy but unsupportable conclusion that
electrical force is the cause of life and intelligence. If this connection is
held to be a scientific fact, then it is necessary to explain electric charge.
Physicists do not know what is electric charge. If there is no explanation for
the cause, then there is no meaningful connection made to the effect.
Is it possible that electromagnetism is the cause of life and
intelligence? We have used it very successfully in developing powerful
artificial intelligence. Since we can use its properties to produce mechanical
robots and artificial intelligence, then perhaps this is the first step in
establishing a mechanical line of development for real life and real intelligence.
We know there was a simple beginning, and perhaps this repeats it. It is a fact
that our computers are already far more powerful in some areas then is the
human brain.
Computers can perform arithmetic operations far faster than can
humans. If we did not use our computers for the purpose of performing calculus
operations such as integration, we would be far less advanced than we are. It
is even possible to imagine that computers represent more than just the initial
stage of intelligence. Some suggest they may represent the future stages of
intelligence. The improvements in computers are representative of different
stages of our intelligence. However, they are machines and are incapable of
generating intelligence.
For one thing when it is said that computers add faster than
humans, we are misrepresenting what humans are doing. Machines add because it
is a mechanical process. Humans do not add. Humans think about what it takes to
solve a problem and then attach meaning to the solution. The mathematics in
between is mechanical and is not a human function. Humans can only imitate it.
We either have memorized the answer to an addition problem or we cannot do it.
We either know by memory that 3 plus 2 equals 5 or we must resort to counting.
When we encounter addition problems with numbers too complex for us to have
memorized the solution, we resort to working with the simple numbers for which
we have memorized the answer. This is why we usually solve the ones and the
tens and the hundreds and so on separately.
Artificial intelligence is just what its name means. It is not the
real thing. It is not even partial intelligence. It is missing all the
characteristics of real intelligence. Artificial intelligence has no inkling of
awareness, no consciousness, no sub consciousness and no independent meaning.
Typical artificial intelligence is a matter of charged particles being pushed
and pulled around from location to location. It begins with the motion of
particles and ends with the motion of particles. Everything in between involves
only the motion of particles.
When a result is achieved, the machine must be forced to do
something that is mechanical and without meaning for the computer. For example,
if the answer is the number 5, then the machine is forced to mechanically
display an arbitrary symbol that is mechanically meaningless. Only real
intelligence looking at it from the outside world can believe anything
meaningful happened. The machine knows nothing, believes nothing and its future
prospects of developing real intelligence are not at all enhanced by the experience.
We have no basis for assigning purely mechanical powers to the particles of matter participating in life. Mechanical powers are inanimate. We know that matter is far more than just sources of mechanical force. Almost all matter is defined as having always been inanimate, according to the mechanical perspective. Now an incredibly small portion is observed to be animate and highly intelligent. This insignificant amount of matter is said to be now aware of the lack of awareness of all other matter. This highly intelligent matter has been formed from the same matter that is defined as being completely unintelligent. Total lack of animation is credited with giving birth to animation. It has to be the case that the perceived fundamental differences between living and nonliving matter are illusory.
There has been no empirical evidence that any fundamental
mechanical differences exist. There is no empirical evidence that life is a
separate force. We cannot honestly say that any new fundamental properties are a
part of life, but are not a part of nonliving matter. While we see a stark
contrast between living and non-living matter, we cannot find a distinct
mechanical division in our empirical observations. All that can be said
scientifically is there are many levels of complexity of life. The lower levels
of complexity show hardly any resemblance to the higher levels. The differences
in complexity appear so great that it becomes imagined the lower forms are not
a part of life. This is an arbitrary nonscientific conclusion. The lower levels
of complexity just keep becoming less complex. Is it not possible for the
complexities of life and intelligence to approach zero complexity without
becoming non-life and non-intelligence?
The differences between the behavior of particles and humans are
vast. We need to be able to talk about them separately. We can’t speak of
everything at once. However, to imagine there is a complete break somewhere
along the chain of development is unwarranted. If there was a complete separation
at any point then the universe could not have assembled parts of itself into
intelligent life. Unless we add a new kind of magical power after the origin of
the universe, then that which is currently defined as inanimate matter became
animate matter through natural, continuous processes which existed from the
origin of the universe.
The third level of operation of the universe is intelligence.
Intelligence is given the third level status because it is generally viewed as
coming into existence after life. It is often presumed that first there was
unintelligent life and then there came intelligent life. I do not accept this
distinction, however, it serves as a useful starting point for discussion. How
does something that is non-life produce life? How can non-intelligence produce
intelligence? In order to believe in purely mechanical matter, one must first
believe mechanical forces are capable of producing intelligence.
If we want to understand the nature of intelligence then we can
begin by analyzing its role in life. Only life possesses the intellectual
resources that allow for complex understanding and intuition. What provides
understanding? Where does intuition come from? Where does recognized life come
from? Not from computers. They did not exist until we made them. They are
mechanical servants to life and intelligence. They are mechanical tools knowing
nothing more than a hammer does.
A hammer can be used to build a house. The house is evidence of
intelligence. So is the hammer. However, the hammer has not acquired any
measure of intelligence as a result of its participation. The hammer is
evidence of intelligence, but it is not representative of real intelligence.
Computers also do not represent intelligence. They are in no way involved in the
evolution of intelligence. They help us to learn, but they do not participate
in causing intelligence. Computers will never be assembled from or gain any
level of understanding from the natural processes of the universe. Real life
was! Real Intelligence was! We were!
We find our roots in the geological record. Something amazing
happened here on earth. Parts of the earth rose up and became us! What we see
in the geological record is the first single cell life forms existed on Earth
for a very long time. There must be an important reason why this stage lasted
so long. There is a reason for everything. This very significant lapse of time
is an important part of an orderly process. Afterwards the complexity of life
began to increase exponentially. Humans were rushed onto the scene. The
ultimate accomplishment, the development of the human brain, appears to have
been completed.
When we examine the evolution of life we find a high degree of
similarity of DNA among all life forms. This points to the conclusion that all life
had the same source. This presents a great challenge to mechanical evolution.
Even a common origin of the DNA molecule does not provide for common results in
all DNA molecules if happenstance is really involved. What we find is the DNA
molecule retained a set code right from the beginning. The whole of the variety
of life uses this standard form of DNA coding.
Mechanical evolution relies upon the ‘belief’ that chance changes
in mechanical parts can add to or change the level of meaning for life and
intelligence. Chance mechanical events cannot be demonstrated to change or add
anything other than mechanical properties. They cannot change or add meaning of
any kind unless the meaning was already provided for by whatever is the source
of life and intelligence. No chance occurrence during the long chain of
development made any difference at all in what code would be used. This is what
would be expected from a well-ordered universe.
For new arrangements of particles to add or change meaning, then
meaning has to already belong to those arrangements. The meaning is
set before the arrangements take place. We already insist the physically
interpreted properties travel with the particle. It is understood it is their
combination of effects that causes the total resultant effect of the
combination of particles. The physical properties, as they are proposed by
physics theory, are not superior to or more real than are the properties of
life and intelligence. Their proposed reality is highly vulnerable to challenge,
while the reality of life and intelligence cannot be doubted.
The combined meaning for life and intelligence arrives in parts
with the particles and becomes a property of the combination of particles. Its
meaning is more complex than that of the separate particles when isolated.
There is new meaning that is seen by us only in the new combination. This
effect is analogous to the way in which molecules demonstrate physical
properties not seen or predicted by the properties of the isolated particles.
The point is: The combination of particles does not merely exhibit mechanical
properties as a part of the order of the universe. It exhibits some part of all
properties of the universe including life and intelligence.
With our well-ordered universe operating for the purpose of
producing intelligent life, we should expect clear coordination in the evidence
record. Everything must have clear meaning. Nothing is truly dead or
meaningless anywhere in the universe. There is a surprising challenge to this expectation.
The amount of DNA a life form contains does not correlate with its level of
development. For example, there are algae, primitive chordates, fishes,
amphibians and others that have more DNA than does a human. A salamander has 32
times as much DNA.
What is the salamander doing with all that DNA? If the DNA molecule evolved along with the complexity of life, then why doesn’t the amount of DNA correlate exactly or even closely with the complexity of the life it generates? Since DNA inherently carries the power to produce intelligent life, then why is there so much unused DNA? Its existence is assigned no purpose. How does something so strongly linked with the important function of producing recognized life become ignored? It is DNA and it should represent a purpose. Why do many of the possible arrangements of the DNA code for complex life appear to be without meaning? Why are some of the arrangements of the code of life unused? It is even called ‘junk’ DNA.
I submit there is no such thing as ‘junk’ or meaningless DNA. There can be damaged DNA. However, damaged DNA is not ignored. The host life form will make use of it if possible. This is not true for the badly named junk DNA. It is ignored on purpose. Each life form knows which portions of DNA to use and which to ignore. All information must be understood before being recognized for a purpose, even if the purpose is to be ignored. Some junk DNA will probably become recognized as having uses. However, there is a great deal of it. Most may have no function. It is the DNA with no apparent function that I refer to as junk DNA. It would be better to refer to it as seemingly unused DNA; however, it is popularly referred to as junk DNA. I will adhere to convention.
The junk, i.e. unused, DNA is recognized here as not representing a
valid part of the specific intended design. It is purposely ignored because its
meaning is excluded from the specifically intended design plan. Since the life
form makes what is obviously an intelligent decision to not use the junk DNA,
then a plan is being followed even in the act of ignoring DNA. Why then is there
junk DNA at all? The answer to this question is a key to learning the process by
which life evolved on the Earth.
It has not been good scientific practice to defend undirected
mechanical evolution while overwhelming challenges remain unexplained. Just as
with physics, the old interpretations attached to the fundamental building
blocks of evolutionary theory must constantly be revisited and revised until
old and new knowledge show natural, continuous unity. All conclusions must
remain tentative until we finally know enough to satisfactorily explain the
empirical facts of the evolutionary process. The knowledge of the past must be
viewed repeatedly while freed of its theoretical bias. Both past and present
knowledge, cleaned and unpackaged, must be looked at as a whole for the
possibility of previously unrecognized, more complex patterns functioning in the operation of the universe. Just as it should be
true for physics, the answers we derive must make real scientific and human sense.
For example, the human brain is the vessel of human intelligence.
The meaning it understands is already contained in the patterns of universal
understanding which are an inherent, always present property of the
combinations of matter from which it is formed. It is not scientific to insist
upon the appearance of new, unanticipated properties, even mental ones, added
on to the nature of the universe after its origin. This does not mean the
design of the human brain is analogous to the fixed, programmed instinct of
lower life forms.
The human brain has the capacity to change patterns of neuron
connections into new patterns. However, all possible patterns of connections
carry established meaning with them in a manner analogous to the different
arrangements of DNA molecules. In this way the human brain is free to explore
many more possible patterns than the rigidly held patterns of instinct. It can
pursue the meaning to be found in a vast number of new arrangements. It can
experiment with these rearrangements of patterns in an effort to rise to new
levels of understanding. It can discover the existence of new, more complicated
thought.
All patterns are representative of parts of the operation of the
universe. The individual brain must already have access to these genetically
generated patterns and their meanings. Individually, probably none of us
contain all the possible genetically generated patterns of understanding. We
can hope that collectively we have most or perhaps even all of them. It depends
upon how much understanding may have been lost during the long periods of
evolution. During this time the mutations that occur by accident could have
destroyed some of our capacity to understand. Hopefully our numbers have been
great enough to prevent the damage of random chance mutations from erasing any
of our collective genetically inherited intelligence.