Intelligent Evolution?

Evolution appears to be intelligently directed.  Is it?

 

According to standard evolution theory, it is not.  Darwinian evolution is said to be the result of random mutations, (emphasize the word, random) some of which enhance the chances of survival (emphasize the word, chances), during natural selection.  Although it relies upon two layers of random chance, the theory still seems to explain bio-diversity.  That is because over the vast expanse of the earth, and over the vast age of the earth, random chance has an unimaginably large number of opportunities to produce results that are seemingly purposeful, even if they are not.

Physicalist science accepts the standard model, and accepts that evolution is not intelligently guided.  But there are reasons to question that model.

One reason is that, if the model is correct, then evolution should be more gradual than seems to be the case.  Although the geologic record reveals numerous, so-called transitional forms, the general pattern seems to be that species remain stable over millions of years, then suddenly vanish, to be suddenly replaced by newer, fully established species.

Catastrophes could explain much of this.  The well-known case of dinosaur extinction is an example of a sudden catastrophe that abruptly exterminated the entire planetary population of dinosaurs in virtually a single day, or at least in a geologically brief time.  With the dinosaurs gone, and with the ecology of the planet suddenly and drastically altered, new environmental niches were open.  Into these niches, entered newly evolving life forms.  Continuing changes in the environments, with continued genetic mutations, resulted in the rise of mammals (for example), and eventually, modern humans.

Taken in isolation, catastrophism (combined with randomness) seems to be an acceptable explanation for the sudden spurts in evolution. 

But there are problems with evolution theory, especially with more complex life forms such as mammals.  One might liken the situation to that of starting with a bicycle, and with step-by-step modifications, ending up with a jet airliner.  At each transitional stage, from bicycle to airliner, the machine must remain completely functional.  There must be no useless parts to hinder further survival.  Every new part that is needed must be produced, and must be smoothly incorporated into the machine, in such a manner that it enhances the function of the machine.  That sounds impossible.

If this comparison seems illogical, one must bear in mind that even the simplest cell in your body is so complicated, and so intricately coordinated internally, and likewise coordinated with other cells, that the jet airliner is actually less complicated than your body.

Randomness might play a role, but randomness is not enough to explain away all the problems with random mutation and natural selection.  Indeed, randomness itself requires nonrandom parameters.  For example, the result of a die-roll might be considered to be random.  But the die itself is not randomly manufactured.  It is intelligently designed to have a set number of sides, as few as four, or many more.  The result of a four-sided die-roll cannot be a six.

This forces us to ask, not only how unlikely it is that the parameters of our universe produced, at random, the conditions suitable for life, but more than that, how did the universe get the parameters it has?  Why not fewer of them, or more?  We must ask, why is the gravitational constant what it is, but also, why is there a gravitational constant at all?

The old theory of a “life force,” has long since been abandoned by physicalist biology, but in fact, the entire universe seems to be an intricately coordinated life force, or at least governed by one.

Life, consciousness and free will, then, are not produced by the physical universe.  They are foundations of it.

-