Everything...and I mean EVERYTHING, is made up of atoms. So what is it about the arrangement of these atoms that makes a living thing living, and an inanimate thing inanimate. It's certainly not the atoms themselves (as far as I can tell) so it's gotta' be something about how the things are grouped together. How come my pen isn't standing up right now having this debate with me? I guess what I'm asking is, is howcome we're..."alive"?
Why are we "alive"?
Started by Josh, 06/23/2004 07:16AM
Posted 06/23/2004 07:16AM
Opening Post
Posted 06/23/2004 11:37AM
#1
On the simplest level, it's chemistry. Combining some collections of atoms gets you more of a reaction than others. Like combining vinegar with baking soda gives you a bubbling good drain cleaner, but combining vinegar with olive oil gives you salad dressing.
We are alive because a very long chain of events and conditions lumped enough atoms together for life to bubble forth. But *why* are we "alive" and not just animated!
Regards,
ccw
We are alive because a very long chain of events and conditions lumped enough atoms together for life to bubble forth. But *why* are we "alive" and not just animated!
Regards,
ccw
Sweet the coming on
Of grateful evening mild; then silent night
With this her solemn bird and this fair moon,
And these the gems of heaven, her starry train.
--John Milton
Posted 06/23/2004 12:06PM
#2
One more thought for consideration: although mankind has tried to combine chemicals in many different ways, we have been unable to create life. God's word tells us that we were created "for His good pleasure". I find it fascinating and exciting that I was made to bring pleasure and delight to God. Contrary to what some may say, God is not hard to please, He simply delights in His children.
Larry,
Larry,
Posted 06/23/2004 06:36PM
#3
It is when the atoms combine into molecules that chemically reconstitute themselves from atoms in their environment, in a runaway chain reaction of self-duplication, do the atoms (or rather their groupings) become "alive". If the duplication is imperfect, so that some variation is possible in the duplication, then a survivorship bias develops so that, given enough time, more complex combinations become possible, which leads to the accumulation and processing and re-processing of information, and it is this that is the very essence of "life".
Posted 06/25/2004 12:43PM
| Edited 06/25/2004 12:55PM
#5
As you all know I do not subscribe to the Bible as the answer for God. But the question of "why life" is one of the best arguments for creation that there is. I did not say "proof" I said "argument".
I study physics with a passion. I love the scientific exploration of what makes the universe tick. I am also very interested in the "origin" of life. (Not evolution as that is entirely different than origin.)
As has already been stated, there is no doubt that the total of life is more than the sum of the parts. An exact replica of you, atom by atom, would in all probability not create another you. There seems to be more than just chemistry at work.
This is not proof that God endowed us with animation as it may be new processes that come into play when all the constituent parts are in place.
Life is a incredible long shot by chance alone. If there was one viable planet for every star in the universe that will still not be enough chances for life to start by the pure chance of mixing chemicals. This also does not prove the existence of God but it does indicate that there is SOMETHING here that "loads the dice" that allows life to start.
Life started on Earth almost immediately at the beginning of the Earth reaching a stable environment. The odds are way against that happening. And most scientists would agree that IF life on Earth happened by chance alone, the we are most certainly alone in the entire Universe as the odds of it happening twice are beyond astronomical.
I do not believe we are alone in the Universe, so there is something that short cuts the odds on life getting started. The question is what is that short cut and why does it exist. Creation? Maybe, maybe not. But there is something special happening there because life is a long long shot indeed. The odds are something like 1 in 10 to the 33rd power. There are not that many planets in the universe. This is not just my opinion but is documented in a number of texts by a number of prominent physicists and biologists.
The most viable theories now suggest that there is a quantum measurement process that includes a superposition of all the chance chemical reactions that SOMEHOW favors the combinations for life. This could be how a creator/designer "loads the dice". Certainly IF the process was designed if would be done in some manner like this and not by magically willing it so.
Life IS special, or fantastically improbable.
Daryl
I study physics with a passion. I love the scientific exploration of what makes the universe tick. I am also very interested in the "origin" of life. (Not evolution as that is entirely different than origin.)
As has already been stated, there is no doubt that the total of life is more than the sum of the parts. An exact replica of you, atom by atom, would in all probability not create another you. There seems to be more than just chemistry at work.
This is not proof that God endowed us with animation as it may be new processes that come into play when all the constituent parts are in place.
Life is a incredible long shot by chance alone. If there was one viable planet for every star in the universe that will still not be enough chances for life to start by the pure chance of mixing chemicals. This also does not prove the existence of God but it does indicate that there is SOMETHING here that "loads the dice" that allows life to start.
Life started on Earth almost immediately at the beginning of the Earth reaching a stable environment. The odds are way against that happening. And most scientists would agree that IF life on Earth happened by chance alone, the we are most certainly alone in the entire Universe as the odds of it happening twice are beyond astronomical.
I do not believe we are alone in the Universe, so there is something that short cuts the odds on life getting started. The question is what is that short cut and why does it exist. Creation? Maybe, maybe not. But there is something special happening there because life is a long long shot indeed. The odds are something like 1 in 10 to the 33rd power. There are not that many planets in the universe. This is not just my opinion but is documented in a number of texts by a number of prominent physicists and biologists.
The most viable theories now suggest that there is a quantum measurement process that includes a superposition of all the chance chemical reactions that SOMEHOW favors the combinations for life. This could be how a creator/designer "loads the dice". Certainly IF the process was designed if would be done in some manner like this and not by magically willing it so.
Life IS special, or fantastically improbable.
Daryl
Funding Member
