quote:
Do you think it is intelligent to design species that can evolve? Surely, an intelligent designer would be able to design lineages of animals, plants, bacteria etc. that responds to changes in the environment, so that the intelligent designer don't have to say "Duh! The giraffes [or insert other intelligently designed creature of your choice here] went extinct because of a 1 degree temperature rise again! Oh well, back to the drawing board."
A Device needs autonomy when you will not be nearby to handle or direct it. Thus, our planetary probes are largely autonomous, because direct control is technically impossible.
On the other hand, applied to metaphysics, this would imply an absent, uncaring god. If you will not be close enough to direct a device, you will not be close enough to save it from danger either, and must be resigned to losses.
™ Version 4.2