• UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
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    1 month ago

    That the movement of a leaf in the wind is less complex than the electro-chemical processes of a human brain?

    With enough time and math, certainly.

    • merc@sh.itjust.works
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      1 month ago

      The point is, you were using the point that a fly’s movements were complex to argue that a fly has internal agency. But, a leaf floating on the wind also has complex movements. To me, that makes it seem like complex movements aren’t a solid indicator of agency.

      If you’re now talking about dissection, that’s a whole different argument.

      • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
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        1 month ago

        a fly’s movements were complex to argue that a fly has internal agency

        A fly has the ability to observe its surroundings and adjust its position in response to outside stimulus. A leaf does not. That, alone, adds a dimension of activity that the first possesses and the second doesn’t.

        You can argue that the fly is still a deterministic agent, but the ability to observe and respond adds a dimension of activity that’s more complex than a leaf, which can only move based on the surrounding wind currents.