[CraigS]

Hi Bert;
Thanks for your words. I really do appreciate, read and consider them very carefully, whenever I see them.

Originally Posted by avandonk

Craig even life on Earth would not follow the same evolutionary path given the exact same starting conditions.

Bert, I’m a little confused by this. I’m just trying to understand. Previously you said:

We can however by observation and inference conclude given the right conditions life will inevitably occur given the correct conditions. This is only due to the laws of the Universe.

So, just trying to understand, in my own words, given the same starting conditions, we can infer and conclude that life will inevitably occur, but I’m trying to understand what other paths might occur and would we ever recognise the end result as ‘life’ ?

This is tricky !

Originally Posted by avandonk

Evolution is a random process only constrained by the laws of physics and chemistry.

So, in my own words, physics and chemistry are determinate and predictable, so the process constraints are predictable. However, the ‘end’ result of an unpredictable evolutionary path is unknown (due to lack of data) ... other than it would result in life, which we may, or may not, recognise as life ?

Originally Posted by avandonk

Of the many life forms with different body morphologies that were produced in the pre Cambrian explosion only a few survive today. All mammals have essentially the same body plan. From whales to mice.
The same rules would apply to exolife and exoevolution.

So the same evolutionary process ‘rules’ would apply elsewhere, but the evolutionary paths might differ, because the starting conditions may be the same or different.

Originally Posted by avandonk

The brick pulled by a rubber band on an inclined plane of carborundum paper is a very good model for fault behaviour driven by tectonic plate movement. Where the pull is tectonic plate movement. The rubber band is the energy in the rock and the sudden movement of the brick is the earthquake.

So, this was a example of a Complex System ... and from the same rationale, I’m pondering the chances of whether the emergence of life may also follow complex system principles. Interesting !

Originally Posted by avandonk

There is a new program on SBS on 0830 PM tues 5th of April all about fractals chaos etc and the associated mathematicians and mathematics. Did you see the very early fractal animals on David Attenborough's First Life?
I only heard about this on the Science Show yesterday.

Haven’t seen Attenborough’s, but I did pour through Mandelbrot’s ‘Colours of Infinity’ (several other books on Chaos, Complexity and Small Worlds).

Originally Posted by avandonk

The counter intuitive thing that comes out of chaotic systems and fractals is that self regenerating order can arise from total randomness. LIFE!

I think this is the definition of ‘Emergence’ (??)
Simply amazing stuff !
I appreciate your responses.
This is absolutely fascinating !

Cheers & Rgds