DAVID: Just accept that something must be eternal, no beginning, no end. > > dhw: I did so long ago. What I do not accept - or reject - is the theory that the “something” (energy and matter?) has a mind. > > DAVID: So what did it have to create progress to now? > > dhw: An infinite number of material combinations which eventually led by chance or by some inner “panpsychist” mental aspect (see the post on consciousness) to organic life and evolution - again, theories which I neither accept nor reject.-So actually you might accept some degree of 'chance' in your thinking? In panpsychism you are sneaking in some degree of 'mentation' which you reject when thinking about the possibility eternal mental energy. Interesting mental convolutions on your part to avoid choosing between chance or design.