31–40 of 129 posts
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Ok, then the point of the piece, that the Octopus is special in being 'alien', becomes moot? Everything is 'alien'.
But in this case, the leap in complexity is so obvious we can tell it's alien (they say.)
I imagine that Punctuated Equilibrium is a far simpler explanation: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punctuated_equilibrium
Just my own perspective: as one who believes God is responsible for the origin, complexity, and diversity of life, this article makes me chuckle. The theory of evolution as an explanation of the origin of the major taxa of life really paints us into a corner from which it is difficult to wiggle out. In my opinion, the panspermia/alien origin hypothesis (and its persistence as an explanation in some respected circles)…
I'm really not sure what you mean by this.
> Also, the insistence on a distinction between "alien" and "divine" has no rational basis
What?? You don't see a distinction between life on another planet and supernatural phenomena...?
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Ok, then the point of the piece, that the Octopus is special in being 'alien', becomes moot? Everything is 'alien'.
But in this case, the leap in complexity is so obvious we can tell it's alien (they say.)
If the leap in complexity of octopuses is so obvious that we can tell it's an alien, do you mean other earlier life in our planet was not alien? That would not make sense because it would be hard to imagine that two independent evolutions of life led to the same protein-based, DNA-based life. So the only reasonable theory is that both the earlier life in our planet as well as octopuses are aliens which is JoeAltmaier's point.
Though it doesn't make the claim that it's of alien origin, nor do I subscribe to the theory necessarily. There's just too much question-begging in the theories that life is somehow of extraterrestrial origin (where did that life come from?).
I think of just how genetically plastic dogs are within their own species, that it's not hard for me to imagine life developing into all sorts of directions without having to resort to the seed hypothesis.
Then again, me trying to speak with any kind of authority on evolution or DNA is akin to a dog discussing quantum physics, so my opinion only goes so far ;)
[0] https://www.wired.com/2013/10/how-the-freaky-octopus-can-hel...
Earlier quoted context omitted.
But in this case, the leap in complexity is so obvious we can tell it's alien (they say.)
I think JoeAltmaier (your parent commenter) still has a point. If the leap in complexity of octopuses is so obvious that we can tell it's an alien, do you mean other earlier life in our planet was not alien? That would not make sense because it would be hard to imagine that two independent evolutions of life led to the same protein-based, DNA-based life. So the only reasonable theory is that both the earlier life in…
JoeAltmaier's wasn't the one introducing the idea of panspermia. His point was, instead: "why even write this paper focusing on octopi if all life is alien" and my answer was, 'cause this is the one time you can really prove that (according to the authors.)
Just my own perspective: as one who believes God is responsible for the origin, complexity, and diversity of life, this article makes me chuckle. The theory of evolution as an explanation of the origin of the major taxa of life really paints us into a corner from which it is difficult to wiggle out. In my opinion, the panspermia/alien origin hypothesis (and its persistence as an explanation in some respected circles)…
You are welcome to believe what you want, but you must understand that accepting faith-based explanations with zero supporting evidence is a fundamentally different sort of thing. Of course you think you have the answers, and that people still grubbing around looking for their own are short-sighted dummies, if you're willing to accept answers that somebody simply made up out of thin air.
> Also, the insistence on a distinction between "alien" and "divine" has no rational basis.
How do you figure that? They seem quite different to me, given the properties that are usually ascribed to hypothetical divine beings.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
But in this case, the leap in complexity is so obvious we can tell it's alien (they say.)
That argument sounds awfully similar to that of Intelligent Design. I imagine that Punctuated Equilibrium is a far simpler explanation: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punctuated_equilibrium