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 Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2006 4:08 pm
as we all know, and hopefully do not dispute, atoms make up all mater. they do so by connecting to other atoms into compounds, which can react with other compounds to give off or take in energy, or to change form.
now comes life, made of very complex chemical reactions. this mixture of chemical reactions is the only reaction which actually has a purpose, which actually TRIES to continue itself. fire does not will to create more fire. oxygen does not go out of ti's way to fuse with hydrogen.
what is special about this chemical reaction to make it act this way, let alone act at all? how do we think if all we are are chemical ractions, atomic structures? how do we go from free particles to thinking beings? please do not talk of God, although it is a good place to fall back on. please tell me how, minus God, who cannot be proven nor disporven scientifically, how we are to exist and why any chemical reaction could develop enough to actually long to recreate itself.
(these are the sort of thoughts that keep me from being a productive member of society)
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Posted: Thu Sep 21, 2006 8:37 am
Not one chemical reaction, but a combination of millions. Because I'm a total nerd, in class or whenever the subject's brought up I find myself trying to fathom how many things are going on in my body, even when I'm just sitting motionless.
SHUT UP! IT'S REALLY COOL WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT! scream
Anyways... stare Fire may not "consciously" create more fire, but it does spread, because of the laws of physics. Chemical reactions happen because of physics, and that's how we've gone from particles to entities containing trillions of atoms making billions of substances that react a million ways synergistically.
The link, however, between the mind and the brain is still debated by experts. If I cut a certain part of your brain, your personality will change, and if I give you a drug that acts on a certain part you'll go from being pissed off to calm, but it's still hard to tell exactly how consciousness is formed. I think Richard Dawkins has a theory about this (I'm sure a lot of people do).
I heart neuroscience and I think I'd like to specialise in psychopharmacology. Fascinating stuff.
And you can use it as an excuse to drop acid and call it research. whee
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Posted: Thu Sep 21, 2006 1:38 pm
yes, it is fascinating. which is why i ponder it.
and yes, fire does continue by the laws of physics. but not in the same way as life. thses many, many complex chemical reactions actually go out of their way to prolong themselves. they have developed ways to continue, they have created conciousness, a system of evolution and locomotion and devouring to obtain energy, all for the sake of continuing these chemical reactions.
but why? why would it matter which chemical reactions continue and which ones don't? why does it matter if there is more or less fire, more or less bonding of water molecules, more or less life?
of course, from our vantage point it is obvious- life is good, it is fun, we witness and love. but that does not explain it. in fact, it shouldn't be possible by the nature of physics for any combination of chemical reactions to actually will to exist.
it would seem that the sole purpose of life is to prolong and create more. but what is so special about these chemical reactions to do that?
my head is exploding slightly.
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