DAVID: Of course cells cooperate. Multicellular life could not exist without cooperation.

dhw: You accused me of expanding the meaning of the word consciousness as a ploy to support my idea that all organisms have a degree of intelligence. I was simply pointing out that my idea concerning the emergence of our own self-awareness through the cooperation of intelligent cell communities is an expansion of the observations of some scientists, and has nothing to do with definitions of consciousness.

DAVID: I think life is a miracle, which requires a supernatural source.

dhw: Another definition of miracle” is “any amazing or wonderful event” (Encarta)

DAVID: I thought we weren't going to argue about definitions.

dhw: The idea I have outlined above has nothing to do with definitions of consciousness. In the context of miracles, I am simply making it clear that the word itself does not necessarily imply a supernatural cause. :-)

True enough.