I should have loved biology (2020) (jsomers.net)

Article summary

The author reflects on their disappointing experience with biology in high school, where it was presented as a dry recitation of facts rather than an exploration of the wonders of life. They suggest that biology should be taught in a more engaging way, focusing on the questions and mysteries of the subject. The author also discusses their own journey to understand biology, including reading books and exploring the physical mechanisms of biological processes. This journey has helped them develop a deeper appreciation for the complexity and beauty of biology.

Main themes

• Biology education
• Scientific wonder
• Complexity of life
• Materialism vs. supernaturalism
• Falsifiability
• Indirect realism

What commenters say

• The complexity of life can be explained by materialistic mechanisms, and supernatural forces are not a necessary or useful explanation.
• The existence of life is a unique case that may require a non-materialistic explanation, such as the existence of God.
• Falsifiability is a crucial aspect of scientific theories, and hypotheses that are not testable or falsifiable are not useful or meaningful.
• The human perception of reality is filtered through indirect realism, which can lead to misunderstandings and misinterpretations of the world.
• Biology is a complex and awe-inspiring subject that should be taught in a way that emphasizes its wonders and mysteries, rather than just presenting dry facts.
• The origin of life is a difficult problem to solve, but it may be possible to explain it through materialistic mechanisms, such as those involving observer selection.
• Supernatural forces are a lazy explanation for natural phenomena and have been consistently replaced by natural explanations throughout history.
• The concept of life is not necessarily unique or special, and its complexity can be compared to other complex systems, such as the clouds of Jupiter.