On 04 May 2012, at 11:35, Pedro C. Marijuan wrote:
Dear Gordana, Hector and colleagues,
I keep thinking that the theme of "absences" is really fundamental
for advancing the foundations of information science, but I am
disappointed by the way Terry has oriented the book. Both style and
contents are inadequate for my taste. He continues to do what he did
in previous papers, highly promising ones (as some parties discussed
in past messages we had in the list); pointing to exciting new
absential aspects but finally focusing in the physical ones (without
much new enlightenment).
In my opinion the most appropriate direction to advance an absential
calculus of sorts is the language of SYMMETRY. Several parties in
this list have already discussed the theme (me included). Symmetry
breaking and symmetry restoration and related formal tools are the
way to tackle the absential dimension in the genuine informational
entities: cells, nervous systems, societies (and the vacuum!!). To
reiterate that the fundamental point is not about computation, but
about self-construction. Those "absences" refer to "gaps", "
functional voids" in the self-construction cycles/processes of those
entities --there might be 'natural computation' associated, eg, in
cellular signaling systems, but finally the ruling aspect is about
self-maintenance and reproduction. We could also enlist McLuhan in
this critical position regarding the physicalist-computationalist
interpretations, I think.
I dare to insist that computationalism and physicalism are in complete
opposition. If computationalism is correct then physicalism is
provably false, and if physicalism is correct then computationalism is
provably false.
The widespread confusion between materialism and mechanism (or
physicalism and computationalism) arises from a reductionist view on
the machines themselves.
-- Bruno Marchal
So, after a glance in the whole book, I am now in the detailed
reading of Chapter 4, with mounting disappointment... "Incomplete
Book"!! Deeper exploration needed!!
best
---Pedro
Gordana Dodig-Crnkovic escribió:
Dear Hector,
This might be a good way, Terry Deacon presenting his book:
http://fora.tv/2012/04/18/Incomplete_Nature_How_Mind_Emerged_From_Matter
What I find fascinating with this book is the whole dynamical
framework,
from thermodynamics, to morphodynamics and teleodynamics.
See also:
http://www.american.edu/cas/economics/info-metrics/pdf/upload/Beavers-Oct-2011-presentation.pdf
For sure, Deacon is not computationalist and his ideas of
information and computation are pretty classical ones.
But it does not matter in this context. For a computationalist all
three kinds of dynamics are computational processes,
and corresponding structures are informational structures.
With best wishes,
Gordana
-----Original Message-----
From: fis-boun...@listas.unizar.es [mailto:fis-boun...@listas.unizar.es
] On Behalf Of Hector Zenil
Sent: den 27 april 2012 22:40
To: Pedro C. Marijuan
Cc: fis@listas.unizar.es
Subject: Re: [Fis] POSTS ON TERRY' S BOOK
Could someone summarize why Terrence Deacon's book is such a presumed
breakthrough judging by the buzz it has generated among FIS
enthusiasts?
Thanks.
On Fri, Apr 27, 2012 at 11:09 AM, Pedro C. Marijuan
<pcmarijuan.i...@aragon.es> wrote:
Dear colleagues,
Krassimir Markov's suggestion is excellent. Next year we could
have a
FIS conference in his place, centered in the exploration of the
new info
avenue drafted by Terrence Deacon's book, and started by Stuart
Kauffman
and others. Previously my suggestion is that we have a regular
discussion session (like the many ones had in this list). A couple
of
voluntary chairs, and an opening text would be needed. Sure Bob
Logan
could handle this (perhaps off list) and we would have a fresh
discussion session for the coming months.
Technical Note: the current messages are not entering in the list;
the
filter is rejecting them as there are too many addresses together.
Please, send the fis address single, and all the others separated
or as
as Cc. Otherwise I will have to enter them one by one.
best
---Pedro
(fis list coordination)
-------------------------------------------------
Pedro C. Marijuán
Grupo de Bioinformación / Bioinformation Group
Instituto Aragonés de Ciencias de la Salud
Avda. Gómez Laguna, 25, Pl. 11ª
50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Telf: 34 976 71 3526 (& 6818) Fax: 34 976 71 5554
pcmarijuan.i...@aragon.es
http://sites.google.com/site/pedrocmarijuan/
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--
-------------------------------------------------
Pedro C. Marijuán
Grupo de Bioinformación / Bioinformation Group
Instituto Aragonés de Ciencias de la Salud
Avda. Gómez Laguna, 25, Pl. 11ª
50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Telf: 34 976 71 3526 (& 6818) Fax: 34 976 71 5554
pcmarijuan.i...@aragon.es
http://sites.google.com/site/pedrocmarijuan/
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