A Case Against Accident and Self-Organization

by Overman, Dean L.

• ISBN13: 9780847689668
• ISBN10: 0847689662
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1997-09-01
• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Pub Inc

Summary

In this illuminating book, Dean L. Overman uses logical principles and mathematical calculations to answer intriguing questions that have long perplexed biologists and astrophysicists.

Author Biography

Dean L. Overman is a senior partner in the Washington, D.C., office of Winston and Strawn, a large international law firm.

Table of Contents

Foreword	xiii
Acknowledgements	xv
Preface	xvii
Powers of Ten	xix
Introduction	1	(2)
Verbal And Mathematical Logic Relating To Questions Presented	3	(28)
Influence of metaphysical assumptions	3	(1)
Thoughts as products of accidents	4	(1)
Valid and false reasoning	5	(18)
Valid and invalid syllogisms	5	(2)
Extrapolations from a small amount of data	7	(2)
Inconsistencies within the context of terms	9	(2)
Hidden assumptions and contrivances in mathematics	11	(6)
Circular reasoning	17	(3)
Failure to confirm hypothesis and assumed validity of alternate explanation	20	(1)
Confusing sequence with cause	21	(1)
Modification of question presented	22	(1)
Limits on logic: lawyers, liars, and Godel's Incompleteness Theorem in mathematics	23	(6)
Uncertainty in quantum mechanics	29	(2)
Case Against Accident From Mathematical Probabilities In Molecular Biology	31	(38)
Definition of life	31	(3)
DNA, RNA, protein synthesis and the genetic code	34	(4)
Theory of the emergence of life from accidental or chance processes	38	(3)
Facticious flaws in the Miller and Urey line of experiments	41	(8)
Less reducing atmosphere of early earth	41	(3)
Inefficacy of random distribution of left and right handed molecules as building blocks for life	44	(1)
Dilution processes in the prebiotic soup and the prevention of formation of polypeptides	44	(4)
Factor of facticious manipulation of researcher	48	(1)
Limited time available for formation of life from accidental or chance processes	49	(2)
Calculating mathematical probabilities of accidental or chance events	51	(7)
Mathematical probability of random protein/enzyme and bacterium formation	58	(7)
Calculation of Sir Fred Hoyle and Chandra Wickramasinghe for random generation of a simple enzyme and calculations for a single celled bacterium	58	(2)
Calculations of Hubert Yockey for random generation of a single molecule of iso-1-cytochrome c protein	60	(2)
Calculations of Bradley and Thaxton for random production of a single protein	62	(1)
Calculations of Harold Morowitz for single celled bacterium developing from accidental or chance processes	63	(1)
Calculations of Bernd-Olaf Kiippers for the random generation of the sequence of a bacterium	64	(1)
Additional challenges from complexity	65	(4)
The Problem Of Complexity: The Generation Of Sufficient Information Content	69	(34)
Absence of plausible method of generating sufficient information content into inorganic matter even in a system far from equilibrium	69	(32)
Insufficiency of energy flow alone to generate adequate information content	69	(2)
The improbability of RNA as a catalyst for the origin of life	71	(2)
Other theories of self-organization in nonequilibrium systems	73	(2)
Order without specified complexity	75	(2)
Silicate crystals: self-replication without specified complexity	77	(2)
Deep sea hydrothermal vents	79	(3)
Metabolism recapitulating biogenesis	82	(7)
Complexity on the edge of chaos	89	(3)
ALH84001	92	(9)
Present absence of a plausible scientific theory for generating information content into inert matter	101	(2)
Case Against Accident From Precision Of Values In Particle Astrophysics Required For The Formation Of Life	103	(74)
Background foundation for discussion of precision of values in particle astrophysics	104	(23)
Hubble's discovery of the expansion of the universe	104	(2)
The Big Bang theory	106	(2)
Blackbody radiation evidence for the Big Bang	108	(1)
The singularity ad initium and the singularities of black holes	109	(3)
The four fundamental forces, quantum particle structure and grand unified theories	112	(1)
Four fundamental forces	112	(1)
Theory of quantum particle structure and quantum chromodynamics	113	(1)
Overview	113	(1)
Antiparticles	114	(1)
Analogies between atomic and subatomic world	115	(1)
Leptons	116	(1)
Quarks	117	(1)
Dimensionless features of quarks and leptons, the singularity, and the excess of particles over antiparticles	118	(1)
Grand unified extra dimensional theories	119	(1)
Guts and strings	119	(1)
Symmetry and Kaluza-Klein extra dimensional theories	119	(1)
Supersymmetry and supergravity theories	120	(1)
String theories	121	(3)
Particle and fundamental force activity in the early universe	124	(3)
Examples of precision of values in particle astrophysics necessary for life	127	(23)
Resonance precision required for existence of carbon, a necessary element for life	128	(2)
Explosive power of Big Bang precisely matched to power of gravity; density precisely matched with critical density	130	(2)
Delicate balance in strong nuclear force	132	(2)
Balancing of gravitational force and electromagnetic force	134	(2)
Meticulous balance between number of electrons and protons	136	(1)
Precision in electromagnetic force and ratio of proton mass to electron mass and neutron mass to proton mass	136	(2)
Big Bang's defiance of Second Law of Thermodynamics and gravity's cumulative effect	138	(2)
Delicate balance of values related to weak nuclear force	140	(2)
Precision in the number of dimensions	142	(1)
Fine tuning in masses of particles, fundamental values and existence of unchanging types of particles required for DNA	142	(1)
Precision in the agreement between abstract mathematics and the laws of the physical world	143	(6)
Conclusion: abundance of evidence from precision of values against accidental formation of a universe compossible with life	149	(1)
Speculations to avoid a beginning out of true nothingness	150	(22)
Conjecture of an oscillating universe	151	(1)
Conjectures of quantum fluctuations, wave functions and no boundaries	152	(1)
The curtain at Planck time	152	(2)
Quantum fluctuations	154	(5)
Wave function and the no boundary proposal	159	(4)
Hawking's question and the need of a creator as causa essendi	163	(5)
The no boundary proposal and the Second Law of Thermodynamics	168	(4)
Weak and strong anthropic principles	172	(5)
Ethical Implications Of Chance Or Impersonal Beginning	177	(4)
Summary And Conclusion	181	(18)
Questions presented	181	(1)
Case against accident from probabilities in molecular biology	182	(2)
Self-organization scenarios and the problem of complexity: the generation of information content	184	(3)
ALH84001	187	(1)
The necessary bridge	187	(1)
Case against accident from probabilities related to precision of values in particle astrophysics	188	(11)
Appendix: Some Important Physical Values	199	(2)
Notes	201	(26)
Selected Bibliography	227	(10)
Index	237	(8)
About the Author	245