Ants and leaves - the Gift

[Amill]

Impossible for this to have been passed down through the genetic code - how could you give a chemical signal that tells an ant that if sometime in its life it were to encounter an unpassable channel of water it is to make a raft!

Lol if chemical signals didn't play a part in the ant's decision to use a raft, what was it?

Ants can't learn , they can only do.

And you know this how?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tandem_running

Tandem running is a method of recruitment used by some species of ants, such as Temnothorax albipennis, to lead nestmates to food. It is dissimilar to other recruitment strategies used by social insects such as pheromone trails, in that ants using tandem running can recruit only one worker at a time. During a tandem run, the worker leads the recruit, which maintains contact with the leader using her antennae.[1]

Does the ant "learn" where the food is after being led there? What would you describe it as?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tandem_running#cite_note-0

 

[nnmartin]

A kind of natural intelligence is conveyed upon the ants when they need it - they tune into this intelligence collectively.

The tandem running of the ants is not the same a planning ahead - which would be the case with cutting down leaves.

 

[nnmartin]

Do you have evidence for the highlighted parts? If so, can you tell us where we can obtain it so we can evaluate it for ourselves?

You can obtain it by communing with nature.

Spend some time in a forest living amongst it all - The Force of Nature will make itself known to you.

 

[nnmartin]

Oh, and I can't help but notice that you didn't attempt to defend your earlier absurdities. Given up on them in favour of this new tosh?

I don't recall any specific absurdities.

Perhaps you would be so kind as to remind me?

 

[Noaidi]

You can obtain it by communing with nature.

Spend some time in a forest living amongst it all - The Force of Nature will make itself known to you.

Interesting response. Given that you are making specific claims about the way you think Nature works, I was hoping for evidence in terms of tested hypotheses and data to back up your emphatic claims of "Impossible! Can't be done!" Seems like you can't supply this, in which case your ideas don't really amount to much.

As far as communing with Nature is concerned, have a wee look at my profile and see what I'm all about!

 

[nnmartin]

I see Atheist/Nature - what does that mean exactly?

I take it you don't believe nature has any Divine Power?

Odd that you expect me to be able to come up with a tested hypothesis for the existence of The Force , could a Christian prove that God existed?

 

[A. T. Henderson]

I don't recall any specific absurdities.

Perhaps you would be so kind as to remind me?

The claims, running throughout this thread, that all animals in some way physically resemble humans, wish to become humans, and that humans are the objective of evolution.

 

[nnmartin]

Most land based mammals certainly resemble humans , as do many reptiles and birds. Some insects are also quite similar in shape.

The animals themselves don't specifically wish to become humans but the Force wishes them to and so guides evolution along the right path.

I admit that this is impossible to prove but I know it to be true as the Gift of this knowledge was passed into my DNA at conception.

 

[A. T. Henderson]

Most land based mammals certainly resemble humans , as do many reptiles and birds. Some insects are also quite similar in shape.

Utterly untrue, as can be seen by simply looking at them. The only mammals which even vaguely resemble us are the primates, and that's because, as I believe I've mentioned, we share direct ancestry.

There are no even vaguely humanoid insects. The mere fact of them having six legs attached at the thorax rules that out instantly.

The animals themselves don't specifically wish to become humans but the Force wishes them to and so guides evolution along the right path.

Substantiate this claim. Evolutionary theory makes it quite plain that this is impossible, and why would your supposed "Force" want it to be so? Species are adapted for their environments, and humans would be completely worthless in many ecological niches.

There is nothing, anywhere, to indicate that evolution is guided by anything other than natural selection.

I admit that this is impossible to prove but I know it to be true as the Gift of this knowledge was passed into my DNA at conception.

So what you're saying is that you can't back up any of your nonsense at all, not even with reasoned argument.

I am unsurprised.

 

[nnmartin]

.. why would your supposed "Force" want it to be so? Species are adapted for their environments, and humans would be completely worthless in many ecological niches.

There is nothing, anywhere, to indicate that evolution is guided by anything other than natural selection.

Humans as animals would be useless in many environments but they have the ability of intelligence to adapt the environment to suit them. This is why the Force guides evolution on.

The Force wants intelligent beings to take care of the Earth and then ultimately to travel to other planets and populate them. Sea-horses, monkeys, dogs and ants cannot do this - so men are required in sufficient numbers to increase the chances.

Order needs to be put back into the universe to stop it expanding into nothingness - humans in this solar system have the ability long term to do this.

It is their role as guided by The Central Source - The Force is physical power given out from the centre.

Is that more clear now?

 

[not nom]

Order needs to be put back into the universe to stop it expanding into nothingness - humans in this solar system have the ability long term to do this.

oh yeah? how so? how will we able to violate the laws of thermodynamics in such a way?

 

[A. T. Henderson]

Is that more clear now?

No, it's even more ridiculous. The only lifeform capable of disrupting the order of nature is homo sapiens. We don't take care of the planet, we take care of ourselves.

If your "force" wanted the planet taken care of, it should have been making sure that lifeforms capable of altering the environment to suit their own needs didn't evolve. This suggestion makes your planner look like an idiot.

 

[Viker]

No, it's even more ridiculous. The only lifeform capable of disrupting the order of nature is homo sapiens. We don't take care of the planet, we take care of ourselves.

If your "force" wanted the planet taken care of, it should have been making sure that lifeforms capable of altering the environment to suit their own needs didn't evolve. This suggestion makes your planner look like an idiot.

Makes one wonder. Which one is the creator?

 

[Noaidi]

I see Atheist/Nature - what does that mean exactly?

I'm an atheist, and the natural world is what I derive my inspiration and purpose from.

I take it you don't believe nature has any Divine Power?

No I don't. No evidence to suggest it does.

Odd that you expect me to be able to come up with a tested hypothesis for the existence of The Force , could a Christian prove that God existed?

I doubt it. However, I am asking for evidence for your specific claims that you have written throughout this thread and others. Using words such as "impossible" implies a certainty rather than a belief. It's that certainty I am querying, and am asking you to verify.

A.T Henderson has addressed the same issue:

The claims, running throughout this thread, that all animals in some way physically resemble humans, wish to become humans, and that humans are the objective of evolution.

 

[tumbleweed41]

Humans as animals would be useless in many environments but they have the ability of intelligence to adapt the environment to suit them. This is why the Force guides evolution on.

The Force wants intelligent beings to take care of the Earth and then ultimately to travel to other planets and populate them. Sea-horses, monkeys, dogs and ants cannot do this - so men are required in sufficient numbers to increase the chances.

Order needs to be put back into the universe to stop it expanding into nothingness - humans in this solar system have the ability long term to do this.

It is their role as guided by The Central Source - The Force is physical power given out from the centre.

Is that more clear now?

Clear as mud.

What evidence do you have for this "Force"?
And where exactly is the "center" of the universe?

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

Clear as mud.

What evidence do you have for this "Force"?

How else can you exlain his ideosyncratic nonsense? It's awefully hard to blame it on evolution.

And where exactly is the "center" of the universe?

You mean the center of his universe. Clearly somewhere through the looking glass.

 

[McBell]

Odd that you expect me to be able to come up with a tested hypothesis for the existence of The Force , could a Christian prove that God existed?

It matters not what a Christian can and cannot do.
However, when Christians make unsubstantiated claims, they are most often, at least on this forum, asked to substantiate them.

Same goes with everyone else for that matter.

 

[McBell]

How else can you exlain his ideosyncratic nonsense? It's awefully hard to blame it on evolution.

You mean the center of his universe. Clearly somewhere through the looking glass.

That which he is in the center of has a rather particular aroma about it....

 

[nnmartin]

And where exactly is the "center" of the universe?

It is out there somewhere beyond the human conception of space and time.

 

[nnmartin]

If your "force" wanted the planet taken care of, it should have been making sure that lifeforms capable of altering the environment to suit their own needs didn't evolve. This suggestion makes your planner look like an idiot.

The Force intends for humans to populate other planets - it does not specifically care about the environment - just wants the job to get done.

There are other entities that do care about the planet Earth and that will perhaps be discussed later on another thread.