natural or artificial

[AntonioLao]

Any appearance, process, environment, remedy, or anything occurring without human interventions is natural. Otherwise, they are artificial; for example, as found in cosmetology, textile industry, brewery, antibiotics, invasive surgery, organ transplant, botanical grafting, breast augmentation, urban and transportation developments. In fact, human civilization is an extreme example of progressive artificiality. This is more of spatial control and physical displacement rather than temporal extension or time dilation. In spite of the advancement of modern science and technology, human lifespan hardly extends more than a hundred year. However, global population, whose exponential growth can hardly be tamed, can be artificially homogenized by cultural mixing and interracial marriages. Although these are now possible within countries promoting racial integration and minimizing all forms of discrimination (e.g. racial, sexual, intellectual, etc.), the progress of these artificial processes can be measured not in days, months, or a few years but many succeeding generations.

From Darwin’s natural selection to artificial selection by genetic engineering, from handpicked intellectual geniuses to widespread digital computerized artificial intelligence; the world seems to move along a progressive path toward total artificiality. The final analysis is the realization of an era of thinking machines controlled by humanoids belonging to a dominant robotic empire. All these can be fulfilled if and only if complete human memory and intelligence can be artificially stored, uploaded, downloaded, and expanded. Nonetheless, the spatial-temporal transfer of memory cannot be realized without the successful implementation of the science and technology of cold fusion. This is one major application of a quantum theory of the spacetime continuum such that spatial-temporal control and displacement are easily put into action. This follows a principle of double least action as the double time integrals of the square of the Lagrangian energy function. Equivalently, the square of the Lagrangian is the sum of squares of zero-point energies of the quantum vacuum fluctuations described using the algebra of Hadamard matrices. A final important note is that artificial controlled thermonuclear fusion by current knowledge of science and technology is impossible without cold fusion although artificially controlled nuclear fission has relatively, easily and effortlessly passed the engineering phase of its development.

[Graybeard]

But how can naturally occurring events give rise to 'artificial' events ..... when those artificial events were dependent and depend on the natural events ? This leads to a logical surmise that either all is natural or all is artificial.

cool bananas ... greg

[labelwench]

The circular equation.

Mankind arises from and is dependent upon nature, yet without fully understanding the mechanism of his own existence, takes it unto himself to directly intercede in the process.

As man is a 'product' of nature, can we extrapolate that his actions then, are also a part of nature?

Perhaps we need better language.

'Natural' and 'Man-made' are two terms commonly used.

Yet Man can make nothing.........absolutely nothing.........without borrowing the raw material from nature.

Even making babies was a gift from nature, whether done between the sheets or in a sterile lab.

We can't make a clone without at least one cell.

In that regard, all arises from nature, and Mankind is perhaps now capable of redirecting evolution in directions that would not have been possible without our species.

Then again, I could be totally wrong.

Those viruses and bacteria could likely whip up another candidate to do the job.

[Graybeard]

Perhaps the only 'artificial' is our perception of the difference

greg

[labelwench]

Perhaps the only 'artificial' is our perception of the difference

greg

Our sense of 'artificial' may reflect our understanding at a deeper level, that we cannot 'create' a damn thing. We merely plagiarize nature, and forget that we are but a small part of a much larger picture.

[Graybeard]

Our sense of 'artificial' may reflect our understanding at a deeper level, that we cannot 'create' a damn thing. We merely plagiarize nature, and forget that we are but a small part of a much larger picture.

Yes. I like. It is true that we cannot create anything ... we must use the existing protons and Electrons. We label our boundaries and divisions and paste them all over everything as tho we are the Lords of the Universe ... and really the Universe was 'nowhere man' until we arrived ... lol. And we love to separate ourselves from all other living species and even humanise them and amuse ourselves. I'm sure you see human traits in horses as I see in many animals ... especially mammals.

The labels themselves do not change the course of the Universe or affect it, but i can see the 'beneficial results' to a species that can organise. I don't decry the 'artificiality' of things but I am awestruck when I think that from nothing more than particles, with no other attributes than motion, arose a composite capable of questioning itself and finding answers.

cool bananas ... greg

[austintorn@aol.com]

Particles and their further composites became the objects that could arrange or be arranged in the place called space, a fine opposition that made things clear. From motion became the object’s transition involving the times of past, now, and future.

These fields then further combine: the what-matter + the when-future field becoming the progression of matter into the future, and the what-matter + the then-past field being the history of the matter past—what has occurred. The when-future + the where-space field makes for wishes, hopes and dreams in the future place of space; while the then-past + the where-space field begets remembrance of memories in the past space.

These emergent fields then further combine: learning becomes of remembrance and history; a change of outlook becomes of remembrance and wishes; a change in structure is progress from history; and vision is of wishes and progress.

Then at the next stage, creativity is brought forth from learning combined with a change in structure; direction results from learning and a change of outlook; growth is the vision for a change of outlook; planning is the vision for a change in structure.

Finally, creating, direction, growth, and planning compose one’s being—The who.

[AntonioLao]

But how can naturally occurring events give rise to 'artificial' events

This depends on out human nature of curiosity to explore where no one has gone before, for example, for some people our will in prolonging our life expectancy, equivalently called the will to live life to the fullest.

[labelwench]

This depends on out human nature of curiosity to explore where no one has gone before, for example, for some people our will in prolonging our life expectancy, equivalently called the will to live life to the fullest.

There is an allotted span to each thing in nature, humans being but one of them. Many factors can limit or extend our life expectancy, yet I suggest that we cannot extend this threshold beyond what nature ultimately allows, though we can keep the biology 'functioning' by use of machines, even in the absence of autonomous function. At that point, though, it's more just a case of 'plumbing and circuitry' rather than 'life-force' in my observation.

Yet, amazingly, the 'life-force' has been restored to operation in many cases of extended coma, so that does give one pause in wondering where the line between 'natural' and 'artificial' does truly lie.

[AntonioLao]

we cannot extend this threshold beyond what nature ultimately allows

Maybe we can extend out mortal life by memory transfer. I would call a quantum of spactime memory as the controversial existence of the soul much talk about by many religions.