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The author said specifically that he did not want to make the video about this philosophical point: > I imagine I'll get some pushback on my definition of a ma
by bryan0 4y ago
The author said specifically that he did not want to make the video about this philosophical point:
> I imagine I'll get some pushback on my definition of a machine. I didn't want to turn the video into a definitional debate so I glossed over it pretty quickly. That was intentional.
The specific definition is kind of besides the point, basically what he’s saying that if the cell is a “machine” then it is quite unlike any machine we are familiar with. It is far more complicated than anything humans have built or even imagined.
- omginternets 4y agoI’m not sure it’s entirely beside the point though, especially as his warnings and criticisms hinge on that very definition. To my point: there’s a nuanced (and, I would argue, more exact) definition of a machine that cellular systems meet. That lay people (and the occasional person who really ought to know better) misinterpret the metaphor is not a terribly interesting point, and, I think, not a reason to throw out the metaphor. To the authors credit, the explanation of how cells and proteins differ from everyday machines was a fascinating read.
- bryan0 4y agoYeah I agree with you. I think the author’s main point that this is a harmful analogy is not correct. We need some model to make progress on the complexities.