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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!alice!rabbit!vjm
From: vjm@rabbit.UUCP (Victor Milenkovic)
Newsgroups: net.religion
Subject: Re: If You've Got the Time...
Message-ID: <2993@rabbit.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 20-Jul-84 23:08:26 EDT
Article-I.D.: rabbit.2993
Posted: Fri Jul 20 23:08:26 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 21-Jul-84 05:00:53 EDT
References: <896@akgua.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill
Lines: 28

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I think the formation of life is a virtual certainty for Earth-like planets
and many other kinds also.  One protein per SECOND isn't too generous
considering that one probably has an entire ocean filled with simple
organic molecules (possible origins for which have been demonstrated in
the laboratory) all bumping into each other.  An ocean-full is a lot of
molecules when one has 6E+23 per gram-molecular weight.

Secondly, an insulin molecule isn't necessary.  What one needs is a 
(relatively) simple self-replicating molecule.  Minor modifications and
cooperative clustering (like multi-celled colonies that eventually evolve
into multi-celled organisms) take over from there.  All this goes on in
a fashion more massively parallel and over a longer time scale than what
we are ever going to be able to comprehend.

In a slightly less serious vein, one might consider philosophies and 
religions to be a form of mental life.  They grow, interact with each other
and with problems and ideas, reproduce (by tranference to other minds, but
never on this forum!), and evolve with time.  Each type of mental infection
has its own form of protection.  Religions say, "I'm true.  Don't doubt me
or you'll be punished."  Rationalism says, "I'm not here.  This is just the
RIGHT (ahem ...) *natural* way to think.  *They* are the ones who are
infected."


Victor Milenkovic  research!vjm