What is the simplest and oldest form of life to have formed on Earth? The virus perhaps?

Can the molecule DNA or RNA be considered life?

Where is the chemical/physical demarcation point for life?

This needs to be clearly defined.

What role does Consciousness/Awareness play?

(the chemistry and thermodynamics involved in the formation of simple self replicating structures is well understood. IMO it's the emergent qualities produced by lifeforms that are difficult to understand and even describe. (consciousness and awareness for example))   

Having said that, there are some who believe that the difference between living and non living forms is trivial and even non existent. Its all an illusion spewed out by complexity and local entropy shifts

Who the bugger knows???

I don't agree that it's 100% speculation

The only thing that I know of that is 100% speculation is the existence of God

easel wrote on Sep 11^th, 2015 at 7:50pm:


but you can apply that notion to any theory you like.

theories seem to be very plastic/elastic and in a state of perpetual flux.....the very impetus of science and human endevour...

time was once thought of as being constant in progression, and never changing - something that sits in the background as events occur....this is no longer the case....and in the future it will most probably change and change again...

So what do you seek here?

eternal truth? absolutes?

maybe take up pure mathematics - no mistakes there. its a dream world of high logic priests

easel wrote on Sep 11^th, 2015 at 11:19pm:


The scientific method involves theory and observation/measurement.

There is a theoretical framework which underpins what scientists/engineers understand about electricity. There is experimental data which supports the latest theory.

So perhaps you may want to explain what you mean by "electricity with scientific principles is not theory"

there is a Newtonian theory of Gravity for example which explains the bulk of the gravitational effects observed. You need Einstein's General Relativity to explain the rest of the phenomena not explained by Newton's theory on gravity. In fact Einsteins theory also fails at the singularity - ie cases where gravity approaches infinity etc.

theory and experiment/observation and coupled together in the scientific method - inseparable

String Theory is a good example of an idea that lacks observational evidence and experimental data to support it. Currently it isnt even considered a science. String Theory is best described as a Mathematical Philosophy rather than a science - that can change if and when experimental evidence emerges to support it.

cheers

easel wrote on Sep 11^th, 2015 at 11:50pm:


....What do you mean by volts, watts, amps, farads are component parts of electricity????

What's wrong with speculating?

Imagination and creativity are equally important to science and art.

Although it may seem that we know a lot in Earthly terms, in universal terms we still haven't scratched the surface, we're not even an embryo, the sperm is still trying to get into the egg, let alone being born and trying to walk or run, in other words primitive.

Most of the science about the cosmos is speculative based on some ones theory after a period of study and observation, that theory will always remain just a theory because there is no way for it to be proven.

For example the Earth like planet that was found recently, it maybe about the same distance away from its sun as the our Earth is to our sun but we can never know what the atmosphere on that planet will truly be like, there are theories but unless someone goes and gets a closer look it will always be a theory.

The skin colour of dinosaurs we have theories but no way to prove it.

Chimp says that God is a 100% speculation.

I say that the big bang theory could only happen if God did truly exist.

In the bible it says that he made the light and then he made the stars.

What is this light it can only be a big explosion a big bang  a universe...????!!!

Well that's my theory...can I prove it....No I cant.

The big bang theory suggest that a small micro piece of matter so small it that can sit on the pointy end of a sewing needle exploded and the universe came into being.

Well that's as big a fairy tale to me as God is to chimp.

How can all this matter within the universe come from something smaller than an atom.

There's only way one to explain it, imo there is a God.

Just step outside your front door look at nature look into the sky and think where we are a little closer to the sun or a little bit further out no life on Earth, what about the tilt of the Earth its orbit blah blah blah.

The Earth's atmosphere water etc etc etc.

This was all by chance some freak lucky break hhmmmmm somehow I find that hard to believe.

Imo the only logical theory is God exists, somewhere somehow, don't ask me to tell you where and how.

The only thing I will say is if anyone has met with death in one way or another they may have a receipt that God does exist.

Chimp_Logic wrote on Sep 10^th, 2015 at 10:27pm:


Not unless you regard corpses as being alive.

Great OP by the way. Welcome back Easel.