The Centrality of information: a new book;dhw look (Introduction)

by David Turell , Tuesday, March 31, 2015, 20:41 (3315 days ago) @ dhw

DAVID: "According to Keith Ward and Arthur Peacocke, the information contained in DNA is not semantic information because no understanding is required for the translation and transcription processes that code for proteins. This kind of information belongs to a third category he calls "Shaping" or coded information and it requires no sentience...... They act as if they are sentient. show me how you can tell the difference.)
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> dhw: For organisms to cope with their environment, and to adapt to change, they must in some way absorb the “information” contained in the environment and use it. Absorbing information from and about the environment is the “sentience” part of the process, and I suggest that the IM is the mechanism that uses the information, i.e. the organism's “brain” or its equivalent. Many experts in the field tell us that bacteria, as single-celled organisms that respond and adapt to the environment, are sentient, cognitive beings.-The point of articles in the book ( and I've only read reviews)is that consciousness plays a role from the beginning of the universe, and implies possibly before. One cannot tell the difference between acting in a sentient manner and actually being sentient. No 'thinking organ' point has been demonstrated in single-celled organisms, only chemical reactions.-> dhw: I argue that this gives plausibility to the theory of an autonomous IM. At one time you were adamant that cell/cell communities were automatons, but more recently, even you have accepted the possibility of what you call semi-autonomy. How would that be possible without sentience?-I don't know where you get the idea that I think organisms are semi-autonomous. I have referred to a possible IM as being semiautonomous, but cells are specifically automatons with their controlled chemical reactions, and simply look sentient.->dhw: You are quite right that, as with humans, so with bacteria and all cells/cell communities, we have no way of knowing whether what appears to be sentience and freedom of action is not in fact dictated by mechanisms already preprogrammed. Since we cannot know, we should remain open-minded.-You can be open minded as it suits your worldview, but I know the chemistry, and in the book they discuss biochemists recognizing the automatic responses. This is where Darwin is getting in more and more trouble, as he biochemistry of life is unfolded.
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> dhw: The authors say “consciousness is primordial and contains all possible states.” By what authority can they make such a statement?-The book appears to be filled with references of the connection between consciousness
and quantum mechanics and therefore our reality.