Do you believe that more complex things can come from less complex things?

Question

There are numerous examples, and there are at least two cases:

1) Complexity emerging spontaneously from physical law. An example is the snowflake, where the beauty, symmetry, and uniqueness of each snowflake come from an interaction between the way water molecules stack into crystals, and the way vibrations propagate in crystals.

2) Complexity emerging from randomness by natural selection. In this case, lots of random things happen, but some process chooses some over others, and the chosen ones tend to persiste. One example is the near-circularity of the planets remaining in the Solar System, and their spacing. Another is the evolution of species from other species.

In the scientific view of the universe, complexity arising naturally out of simpler predecessors is central to understanding why things are the way they are. The realization that this is possible is fairly recent---only within the past few hundred years. And perhaps this idea is not yet widely understood.

This really is a question---I'd be interested in hearing counter arguments.

Answer 1

What about the LAWS of thermodynamics? Those things are ignored by the "intelligent" one's who push the "theory" of evolution. Things are in a state of deterioration, not evolution.

Laws are laws, and mindless theories cannot override what is proven.

Answer 2

Anything occupying a spot in space and time can ascend or descend. The natural tendency is toward a state of decay, lower energy and less complexity. But if the conditions and forces are right, including the input of energy and intelligence, then something can increase in complexity. It's a matter of all the inputs being in the right place at the right time, at which point, the laws of nature would govern the whatever to a higher order.

Answer 3

They have recently found RNA like structures forming in space dusts (layman terminology). Crystalline structures are often quite complex as are naturally occurring molecules.

The idea that complexity does not arise from the simple is based on a incomplete or high school understanding of the laws of thermodynamics.

Answer 4

I assume you mean "spontaneously arising", as otherwise a car "arising" from a mass of iron ore and various other disgusting substances would be an example.

Yes, I do. It happens all the time, and you've given some of the better examples. So?

Answer 5

This idea is certainly misunderstood by the majority of Americans or there wouldn't be this ridiculous push to teach "creationism" in public schools.
Like you said... this is a recent realization. Unlike religion, which has had a five thousand year head start!

Answer 6

If the entire universe follows the chaos theory...
AND the entire universe goes to a state of complete chaos...
THEN the universe MUST become more organized, due to chaos ruining the perfectly unorganized chaos that abounds.

If you understand this, you understand that more complex things can, and often do, come from less comples things.

Answer 7

You're preachin' to the choir, man! Unfortunately the Xtians just don't seem to believe that life, or any other condition on this planet ever happened randomly--they think it all happened perfectly and as planned--but for some reason their pefect God still needs to produce miracles, to correct for ..ummm...some..er..mistakes.

Answer 8

Yes. We observe this all the time. I don't know where creationists get the idea that complexity can not arise from simplicity.

Answer 9

Yep. Crystals form all the time. All you have to do is make rock candy and you can see it.

Answer 10

More than just "can" come -- they MUST come from simpler roots.

Which is what makes the God Hypothesis so absurdly improbable.