Cells can have any non-negative integer in them (with zero representing the empty cell): In any given iterarion, for any cell , there is a (1-1/(k+1))/2 chance that the cell is filled with k, where k is the largest number in an adjacent cell, and a ( (1-1/(k+1))/2) chance that it will fill with k+1. Now, start this with a single cell with k=1 and all others empty. The population will rapidly expand, and "evolve" towards higher and higher integers, expanding rapidly from the initial point, with different populations of integers expanding outwards and competing.
Hmm. Yes. That meets my criteria for adaptation.
It's pretty simple - I shoulda thought of that myself, and saved you some time.
I believe that life on Earth arose spontaneously. I also believe the galaxy around me is largely devoid of life. I reconcile these things using the anthropic principle.
I also believe that fundamental cosmological constants have values convenient for the development of life. I don't know if it makes sense to pretend that those constants could have had other values - it seems to me like arguing that e could have been 2.716. But it's certainly done. And again, the anthropic principle is sometimes invoked, as an alternative to, say, God.
Suppose somebody came up with a new theory of cosmological constants, that claimed that only certain values are allowable, and that a large percentage of the allowable sets would make life possible. Then you wouldn't have to use the anthropic principle. Wouldn't you be more comfortable with that?
But if that's so, doesn't it mean that you really attach a low prior to the anthropic principle? And that you don't truly accept the anthropic principle?
How do you do Bayesian belief revision when one of your alternative hypotheses uses the anthropic principle? Can you give a strong preference to the hypothesis that does not require it? Because I know that I would.