Clearly the same forces which arose to create an organism will resist the decay of that organism (entropy).

What is intriguing me about this is the idea of an "organism" acting outside the box, so to speak.

Humans will sacrifice themselves for the greater good, but only under much duress, at gunpoint so to speak. (More of them are unwilling to contribute ANYTHING toward the welfare of the whole except at gunpoint.)

I'm wondering about where the consciousness of a hive or nest resides. If things are OK and running smoothly is the chemical "nervous system" calm, and all members calm and content? Is that "consciousness"?

In the woods near my home there are occasional "bee trees", dead trees with beehives in them. If one is walking 80 yards off one attracts the attention of a bee or two. They usually buzz you, making you aware of their presence.

As one gets closer there are more bees which become more aggressive. At 70 yards there may be 3 or 4 at any one time, and at 55 yards 6 to 10. Get any closer and you are going to get stung. Said sting will also kill these types of bee.

Is that behavior coded in DNA? Is there a collective consciousness directing defensive measures, like NORAD? How does it function over those distances? Is the bee aware of dying? Of living? Of sacrifice?

As you point out, there is an intelligence operating which is bigger than a bee. And just as clearly it's an intelligence I don't recognize. So which is the dumber, the bee or me for not recognizing the bee as intelligent?

Beats the hell out of me.

Arf