[lohankin]

Can you cite any experiment that can distinguish volitional choice from non-volitional choice (whatever that means)?

In the absence of such experiment, both options are purely speculative (by definition).

BTW, is your statement above a result of volitional choice, or non-volitional choice? How do you know? :)

[tasty_freeze]

This is a silly argument. You can't seriously be suggesting that the bacteria are choosing to modify their DNA in anticipation of future benefits. For sure, nothing is ever 100% absolutely known, but some things are so unlikely that we can safely assume they are not true, rather than putting a wordy disclaimer on every single "fact" that we state.

Getting back to the original point, people, including me, will say things like "this shopping cart wants to pull to the right" knowing full well that the shopping card has no desires at all. It is a useful metaphor that confuses nobody.

[lohankin]

Modifying something for future benefits is exactly what sentient beings are doing. Yeah, bacteria are small. But small is not the same as dumb.

[sabertoothed]

What are you suggesting? I am not sure you are making any sense.

[pranjalv123]

If mutations in a single generation are favorable more often than would happen by chance, this would be evidence of volitional choice. But we don't see this.