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"Your carving of the distinction between discrete and continuous states is reminiscent of Luis Rocha’s point that, for RNA molecules to be information carriers in abiogenesis hypotheses, it would require a separation between the two functions of RNA – on the one hand, non-reactive to carry information (content) and the other, reactive to perform the catalytic function. That expresses my primary objection to autonomy by natural causation and will no doubt be a key point when we resume the abiogenesis analysis. . . ."

I was thinking of Pattee's discussion of "Semiotic Enclosures" in which he stated that there must be both a linear and circular model within which to work. I view the objection to "autonomy by natural causation" as rejection of a linear model.

". . . It is most helpful in these discussions when motive is not questioned. . . ."

I am not questioning betty's intentions as lacking "good faith." But the failure of the Entropy vs. Evolution argument has been long established and within the new construct of a "living global entity" or "population of one" it can be revived, since the "entity" can be treated as a "closed system"

". . . Jeepers, StJacques. I am honored to know betty boop as my sister in the Lord Jesus Christ. She would certainly never promote any anti-Christ worldview – and at the same time she would never ridicule a person who is atheist, agnostic, pagan, pantheistic or new age. . . ."

In no way did I intend to call betty a pagan. That remark was somewhat tongue-in-cheek, perhaps I should have followed it with a Lol! comment to make this clear. I posted that comment because I have had a number of discussions on the Gaia hypothesis with some very weird hippie friends who start talking about "Earth Mother" and "the living being that is the Earth" and "the spiritual essence of the living Earth" -- all in which they diverge from the Gaia hypothesis -- all of which sounds quite pagan to me. I found myself thinking about it as I addressed the "global entity" concept. I did make a remark about "my hippie friends" earlier in my post, perhaps I should have grouped that remark together with my final comment. I do NOT consider betty a pagan by any means.

Thank you oh so very much for your clarifications!

I view the objection to "autonomy by natural causation" as rejection of a linear model.

I do not reject a linear model, I raised the objection to autonomy by natural causation because I see this as the first big hurdle for any theory of abiogenesis - namely, how RNA must toggle between hosting information content and being catalytic to accrue sufficient symbols to bootstrap self-organizing complexity (if that is the complexity of choice).

As I recall, Pattee suggested there may have been an extraordinary "one time only" (my paraphrase) set of events at the inception of biological life - which is kind of like an appeal to the anthropic principle for initial conditions (physical laws/constants) in the universe.