In this short talk we will focus on three origins: The Universe, Life, and Human Consciousness. There are also three rules we will follow: 1) The Socratic Principle “to follow the truth where ever it leads you”; 2) Ockham’s razor “that the best way forward is the simplest that deals with all of the facts”; and finally 3) The advice my PhD mentor Bill Flygare gave way back when “Mike, remember the molecule is always right”. We will approach these subjects primarily using scientific data and methods but will also bring important philosophical and if time permits theological perspectives to bear. All 3 of the “origins” involve unique, one-of-a-kind events to initiate them followed by extraordinary evolutionary processes. We will comment both on the unique events and their consequences and how all are totally central to our understanding of who we are and perhaps involve implications of how we should respond.<br/>I will also note there is a hierarchy involved with the physical universe and its emergent properties providing the base of a pyramid; life forming the central part of the pyramid, dependent on but radically different than the inanimate universe; and finally at the top of the pyramid, human consciousness, dependent on the other two but transcendent in character extending beyond both the physical universe and simple life.

Origins: God or no God, that is the question

255th National Meeting (2018)

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