|
Author
|
Topic: Arie S. Issar: The evolution of complex information systems as movement against ...
|
Moderator
Administrator
Member # 1
|
posted 08. August 2002 08:40
The evolution of complex information systems as movement against the pull of entropy, measured along information-space-time dimensions.
by Arie S. Issar
issar@bgumail.bgu.ac.il
ABSTRACT—A new basic dimension is hereby introduced in order to explain the emergence as well as the evolution of ordered complexity in the bio-world. It is suggested to be defined as "the dimension of information", which relates to all what is measured by a computer. (While space is all what is measured by the meter and time is all what is measured by a clock). It has four degrees of freedom namely addition and reduction (i.e. '+' & '-') and induction and deduction (I.e. 'if-then' and 'when-then'). The living cell can be thus described as a system on space-time-information dimensions, able to transform sequences of events from the coordinates of space-time to that of information. This is accomplished by the transformation of mechanical and electro-chemical stimuli into ordered complex structures of notions (which are equivalent to points on the dimension of space, and to instants on the dimension of time). The rise in complexity of the structures of notions on the dimension of information enables the promotion of concepts into ideas and into theories. In order to do this energy has to be invested. This is because it is a movement opposing the slope of universal entropy. In other words, the universal pull towards infinite disorder=entropy, is described as the geometry of space-time-information continuum, which has eleven degrees of freedom (spatial x,y,z, each of which has two degrees of freedom, temporal, which has one degree of freedom from past to future and information with four degrees).
To read the entire paper, please click here
[ 08 August 2002, 08:41: Message edited by: Moderator ]
IP: Logged
|
|
Leonid Andreev
Member
Member # 282
|
posted 28. August 2002 03:26
Prof. Issar touches upon a very important issue. However, he fails to provide any serious arguments for treating information as a new basic dimension. The reasoning about eggs and hens may be intriguing but it hardly serves in any way the scientific aspect of the problem. Space and time have no upper and lower boundaries, nor regular physical discontinuities which could provide for natural units of measure. Space and time units are man-made, be it a platinum-iridium standard meter, atomic clock, or “the number of cigarettes one smokes until he reaches the place”. Prof. Issar suggests that a minimal unit of information is a notion or bit. However, as no information exists below the value of such a unit, there is no new dimension other than old good ‘time’ and ‘space’.
IP: Logged
|
|
warren_bergerson
Member
Member # 262
|
posted 28. August 2002 08:42
Independent of its potential value in defining the ‘topology of life’, the concept of an information dimension provides some useful insights into the ‘problem’ of the scientific analysis of life forms. To begin, it will be recognized that if we take ‘snap-shots’ of living and non-living objects at points in time, each object will have 1)a time property, 2)a spatial or location property, 3) a mass property, 4)a velocity property, and 5)an information property(I would call it a design property).
Two obvious points. First, we have reasonably well established techniques for modeling/measuring/quantifying the time, location, mass and velocity properties. We do not have established techniques for modeling/measuring/quantifying the information property of either a living or non-living object. Second, while certain fields of physics are concerned with changes in time, location, mass, and velocity properties, the analysis of life forms is almost entirely concerned with the analysis of changes in the information/design property of life forms.
If we accept that the analysis of life forms is the analysis of the information property of life forms, then we must recognize that the first steps in performing ‘scientific analysis’ are to identify/ precisely define/ measure/quantify/model the information property. Before we can seriously consider developing a mathematical space or dimension for mapping or graphing the information property, we need techniques for defining/quantifying/modeling the information or design property.
One of the first step in measuring the information property is to recognize that the property is not likely to be simple. It is highly unlikely that even the simplest life forms will have information properties that can expressed in terms of one, two, or five dimensions or variables.
Another earlier, and less obvious step, is to recognize that the information or design property, to be useful in the analysis of life forms must satisfy three general criteria. First, the information property needs to address the purposeful or teleological aspect of life forms. The property must measure/define how a life form interacts with the environment to increase the likelihood of its own survival. Second, the information property needs to address ‘what changes’ when the information property changes. The information property must reflect or measure adaptive changes. Finally, the information property needs to address the ‘evolution’ of the information property. [To express this another way, if the ‘information or design property’ is accepted as central in the analysis of life forms, then it needs to be useful in modeling/simulating/predicting/explaining 1)the teleological nature of life forms, 2)the dynamic or adaptive aspects of life forms and 3)the ability of life forms to change or evolve. ]
In recognition of the complexity of the information property, it has been suggested that the information property might be viewed or expressed as a computer or logic machine programs. There exists a rather interesting type of mathematical algorithm which, it appears, can be used to model elementary forms of the ‘information property in life forms’ and which satisfy the three criteria listed above. The algorithms 1)represent/model/define input/output processing (where the processing is or can be teleological), 2) can be modified by input to produce changes in the processing algorithm, and 3)which can be subdivided to produce or ‘evolve’ new teleological processing.
The point or points I am trying to make here are that 1)the information property or biological design property of a life form is the object or subject of the scientific analysis of life forms, 2)an acceptable or useful definition or model of this information property must satisfy some relatively complex requirements, and 3)there are techniques which , it appears, make it possible to define and measure the information or design property. Only when we have an acceptable, precise definition of the information property can we seriously begin to address the question of how to map or illustrate the property.
Prof. Issar and a number of others have suggested that the key to modeling and analyzing life forms might lie in developing a new mathematical/logical space, structure or topology. IMO, these proposals, while interesting and thought provoking, are ‘jumping the gun’. Before attempting to define the mathematical/logical space in which the information or design property can expressed and analyzed, we need to find techniques for identifying, defining, measuring and modeling the information or design property. Once this property is defined, IMO, we will find that it fits quite respectably in the standard set theoretic mathematical space.
IP: Logged
|
|
|
Printer-friendly view of this topic