The REVOLUTION of Life

[Shape]

Did Life emerge gradually over time, or were emergent events responsible?

The Emergence of Life on Earth obviously establishes the clear and certain proof that such a Form of
spectacular Change can occur, and actually has occurred in the history of the Earth. But, rather surprisingly,
when you read what has been written on this matter, you are, more often than not, given a somewhat slanted
description of the nature of the process. It is frequently portrayed as the result of a kind of “incessant”
gradualism, which can best be described in the phrase, “Try, try and try again, until you succeed!”
It is an odd way to look at it, but underneath that easy form there lurks a position which sees Mankind as an
inevitable final blossoming of the process. Of course, I may well be misinterpreting the motives of the
supporters of this standpoint, but, whatever their motivations, such a characterisation is certainly incorrect,
whether implicitly homocentric or not!
Certainly, there is never any overt statement that openly espouses the above characterising “phrase”. So let us
take the basic position on its merits, and address the obvious sources and assumptions of that viewpoint.
There are many experimental fragments, such as those conducted on different occasions by Miller and by
Oparin, which are always enthusiastically taken up by believers in the “natural” Origin of Life on Earth, as
un-dismissible proof that such a transition had indeed occurred, but they thought that the overall process was
still one of gradual, step-by-step change: that it gradually emerged!.
It was as if inanimate Matter was “trying” to produce Life, but on getiing a few moves towards it was
repeatedly stymied and pushed back again by natural, disruptive Events. The story became one of multiple
and various “failed” attempts over vast periods of time, which separately and differently moved the situation
forwards, but at different times and in different directions. The final “fulfilment” could only be when these
things finally came together simultaneously, so that they could blossom into a co-ordinated, self-maintaining
centre of Life, brought about by quite normal processes, but finally acting together.
No special processes were involved, merely the working through of all possibilities.
Now, this is a nice fairy tale, but it is a myth!
To portray it accurately, I must concede that some aspects are indeed true, while others are certainly not.
It turns Life into an eventually inevitable, though gradual, halting and chance process. I’m afraid that this is
not only too simplistic, but also quite definately incorrect.
The essence of any Emergence is that it dramatically and irretrievably changes its own Context.
In the version of gradualism described above, NO mention is made of any speedy and dramatic overturn.
For, faced with an unchanging Context, a miracle like the Origin of Life could never occur...

You can read the rest of this paper at http://www.e-journal.org.uk/shape/papers/i0105.html if you are interested. Please leave feedback whether you agree or disagree with these ideas! Many Thanks, Jim

[Homeostasis]

gradual over time life was formed. It started out with some strange one-celled organism or micro bacteria thing, then it developed through stimuli and response, because of massive weather changes ice age.... volcanoes.... etc. not all at once. HUMANS weren't around when DINOS were were they? JK I know what you mean ^_^