Re: Evolution increases the computational ability of organisms.


"J.A. Legris" <jalegris@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1190158110.249964.323330@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
On Sep 17, 1:45 pm, dkomo <dkomo...@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I think we need a general definition of information processing. I'll
start with this:

"Causal interactions that can be simulated exactly on a digital
computer"

There is an immediate problem here: only purely digital interactions
can satisfy the definition. Evidently, natural systems have a degree
of such digital equivalence, but the material substrates get in the
way of the analysis. Generally, we cannot cleanly separate the
information processing from the implementation.

Any suggestions for a better definition?

Breaking it down may help.

Information: a difference that makes a difference to some entity/process.
Processing: manipulating information to make it available/receivable to/by
some entity/process. Processing can include error-reduction,
extraction/generation of redundancy, interpretation, transduction and so
forth.


I don't think "causal interactions" are the only types of information
(manipulation). And I don't think linking the def. to digital computers
makes sense from a definitional standpoint.



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