Graham, I think you provide an excellent analysis of Young's ideas. It is interesting that many are attracted to the idea of emergentism and complexity theory to describe what physical laws can't. Self-organization is part or that. But, where does this amazing ability that presumably caused our remarkable brains and even more remarkable consciousness come from? Natural teleology and "natural magic" (Stuart Kauffman's view) appear to be today's scientifically credible way of saying God without saying God.