RE: A Proposal
Brian D. Harper (bharper@postbox.acs.ohio-state.edu)
Sat, 24 Aug 1996 19:39:51 -0400 (EDT)At 09:25 AM 8/23/96 -0400, Bill H. wrote:
>Glenn Morton wrote:
>
>>These functional maps on sequence space are like the strange attractors of
>>chaos theory fame. And as Brian noted, the strange attractors are located
>>at very convenient places. I believe that science is in the process of
>>discovering that the functional attractors in biological polymers are
>>similarly arranged so that it is almost inevitable that functions needed
>>for life are easy to find. In my mind, this is evidence of design because
>>it is like having the roulette wheel rigged to give black 34 all the time.
>
>Agreed. The design is in the rules that make things happen. That's
>creation. Providence is in the ability of God to introduce infinitesimal
>perturbations that cause specific attractors to be chosen when needed. I
>am not arguing that God's actions are always invisible, only that God has a
>sense of "elegance" (which He has given to us in some degree) which leads
>to mechanisms that do what He wants done with minimal disruption from Him
>-- IOW most of the time He operates like a process engineer who controls a
>plant from a control panel. Occasionally He goes out into the plant and
>reroutes some piple, but good process design would minimize the need for
>that kind of activity.
>
I kind of like this view from a theological perspective. I think there
is another reason for God's subtlety besides the elegance that Bill
mentions, namely his graciousness in not forcing himself upon us.
If God revealed himself too clearly it would become impossible for
us to resist him.
Bill has mentioned creation and providence. I would like to add
to this free will. In a mechanistic, deterministic view of
nature there is no free will. In a world whose dynamics is
described by point attractors and limit cycles it is hard to
imagine our actions having any significant impact upon what
happens. Once we get in the vicinity of a point attractor, its
pretty hard to escape. You are trapped there. But with strange
attractors, seemingly small decisions can have huge consequences.
This gives a feeling of freedom. That our actions really have
consequences.
========================
Brian Harper | "People of that kind are academics, scholars,
Associate Professor | and that is the nastiest kind of man I know."
Applied Mechanics | -- Blaise Pascal
Ohio State University |
========================