Newsgroups: comp.ai.alife
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From: rdb@ktibv.uucp (The Graphical Gnome)
Subject: Re: Is this example alive?
Message-ID: <1994Sep12.085109.3573@ktibv.uucp>
Organization: KTI BV
References: <34dml4$leo@gap.cco.caltech.edu> <hous0042.778753604@maroon> <94251.172056NKEW@esrin.bitnet> <940909.070611.4285@cheshire.cc.oxy.edu>
Date: Mon, 12 Sep 1994 08:51:09 GMT
Lines: 23

robft@oxy.edu (Robert Franck-Thompson) writes:

>In article <94251.172056NKEW@esrin.bitnet>,  <NKEW@ESRIN.BITNET> wrote:
>>Do barchans exhibit any kind of self-preservation, save for that due to
>>their mass?   I think this is a reasonable prerequisite for life.

>I'd have to disagree.  What about human altruism and self-sacrifice?  What
>about lemmings running into the sea?  What about moths flying into a candle? 
Both are bad examples.

Lemmings are not comittig suicide. They drown searching desperate for
food.

Dawkings give a perfect logical explenation for moth flying in a
candle. In short:

They think it's the moon.
They want to fly in a strait line with the moon.
Flying in a strait line following a candle leads to flying in
concentric circles -> ending in the flame.
 

The Graphical Gnome (rdb@ktibv)
