Re: [Fis] info meaning

[walter\.riofrio]

Dear Bob, Pedro and colleagues:

This is my first message in FIS list.
My name is Walter Riofrio, Associate Professor of Peruvian University 
Cayetano Heredia in Lima-Peru.  My research interests are:
(1) Theoretical and Conceptual Analysis in Biology and Natural Sciences; 
(2) Nature of Biological Evolution; (3) Emergence of basic properties in 
Living Systems; (4) Relationships between Biological Functions, Biological 
Information and Network of Molecular Processes; (5) Theoretical Studies in 
Architecture of the Brain and its relations with the Emergence of Cognition 
in Evolution; (6) The Neural and Temporal Code linked to the Emergence of 
Mental Properties.


I would like to participate in the discussion of proposals on “biotic 
interpretation of information” in POE.
I agree with Pedro about the statement “The origins of life…must be 
explained…by means of the highest power or upper hand in science: the 
experimental.”


But I would add the following thing: We still need the conceptual 
development (that it is not so easy task) and the respective translations 
in the design of interesting, elegant and outstanding experiments with 
which not only continue the accumulation of more or less dispersed data but 
concrete security we are obtaining explanations on this topic.


Actually, I have a lot of questions because of my researches are related 
with some issues in the paper (although, I only put some of them here):


(1) To understand adequately one of the main claims, mainly, equaling 
information (biotic or instructional information) with constraints I 
wondering if the notion “propagation organization” adds something more to 
the notion of “reproduction”


(2) In the same way: how can arise the “meaning” In naturalist terms or 
imposed by us? If is the former, how the living beings process the “meaning 
of ‘some’ information” in themselves?


One can therefore argue that since the meaning of 
instructional information is propagating organization that we finally 
understand the meaning of life – the “meaning of life” is propagating 
organization.


(3) My last question, it is due that I have works in this issue: the nature 
of biological information. And my main working thesis is that I claim that 
it is still possible to construct in “Naturalized Normative ways” notions 
like Information, Function and Autonomy. Moreover, that these three 
properties are the most basic properties of life.


Briefly stated, I consider the autonomy a property (global property) which 
is the result of the first emergence of information and function (in the 
local interactions between the processes in an interrelated molecular 
network).
My working hypothesis is about the origins of prebiotic phenomena and I 
postulate that the system which opened these doors were the “Informational 
Dynamic Systems” (IDS).


This is the one that caused the necessary and sufficient conditions to set 
off the succession of certain phenomena of the universe towards the 
possibility of the emergence of biological systems. It is also the system 
that might have been the driving force to the beginning of the move from 
the inanimate world to the animate one.


My theoretical proposal visualizes the emergence of information and 
biological function in a sort of coordinated origin – at the same time – in 
the local processes of these types of systems.


This visualization of the physical emergence of Information and Function 
gives us to talk about the notion of “Information-Function”; each time we 
observe functions happening in these systems’ processes, we can be sure 
that some type of information has been transmitted through them. Likewise, 
when we observe the transmission of some type of information among the 
process, we can be sure that some function has been produced among them.


It means that the kind of organization in these systems (and, of course, in 
the living beings) is an “Informational and Functional Dynamic Organization”.


If someone would like to read more of my proposals, there are three links:

- One chapter in a book:
(A) Riofrio, Walter (2007a) Informational Dynamic Systems: Autonomy, 
Information, Function. In Worldviews, Science, and Us: Philosophy and 
Complexity, edited by C. Gershenson, D. Aerts, and B. Edmonds. World 
Scientific, Singapore, pp. 232-249.
Link of a pre-published 
version: 
http://wriofrio.aboutus.gs/Papers/PyC-WR.pdfhttp://wriofrio.aboutus.gs/Papers/PyC-WR.pdf 



- Two works which develops some consequences of my main claims (in 
the aforementioned paper) applied to the relationships between the 
cytoarchitectute of the brain and the emergence of cognition in evolution:


(B) Riofrio, W. and Aguilar, L.A. (2006) Different Neurons Population 
Distribution correlates with Topologic-Temporal Dynamic Acoustic 
Information Flow. InterJournal Complex Systems  # [1619].


http://wriofrio.aboutus.gs/Papers/AcInFl-WR.pdfhttp://wriofrio.aboutus.gs/Papers/AcInFl-WR.pdf

(C

Re: [Fis] The Fascination of Art

[Walter Riofrio]

Dear Gordana,

(1) If you consider interesting philosophical studies on Complexity and 
Information 
(Biological Information) I have a manuscript entitled “Informational Dynamic 
Systems: 
Autonomy, Information, Function” published as a chapter in Worldviews, Science, 
and Us: Philosophy and
Complexity, edited by C. Gershenson, D. Aerts, and B. Edmonds. World 
Scientific, Singapore, pp. 232-249 (2007) [it could be interesting if you take 
a look at 
inside the book], the link of a previous draft is:

http://wriofrio.aboutus.gs/Papers/PyC-WR.pdf  

(2) One presentation in 2007: “Roots and Emergence of Cognition in Evolution”. 
Available from Nature Precedings 
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/npre.2007.413.2  

(3) In Biosemiotics Journal will appear “Understanding the Emergence of 
Cellular 
Organization”. Doi: 10.1007/s12304-008-9027-z. In my paper I seek to identify 
(among others) general principles that govern biological computing from the 
question: 
How do biological systems process information?

http://www.springerlink.com/content/c6q176861g680w42/?p=cd657362ae4c42a0b13f11a6d8c7927fpi=5
   

Sincerely,


Walter


 


-- Cabecera original --- 

De: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Para: fis fis@listas.unizar.es
Copia: 
Fecha: Wed, 15 Oct 2008 16:39:55 +0200
Asunto: Re: [Fis] The Fascination of Art

 Dear colleagues,
 
 I wonder if you can recommend me sources - articles, books, 
 presentations/iPods/videos
 of your own or otherwise that we could have as resource in the following 
 course:
 http://www.idt.mdh.se/kurser/comphil/ in Computing and Philosophy (where 
 computing is understood as
information processing)-
 anything in Pphilosophy of information and computing would be interesting.
 
 Best wishes,
 Gordana
 http://www.idt.mdh.se/personal/gdc/
 
 


***
Walter Riofrio
Theoretical and Evolutionary Biology Researcher
- Researcher, Complex Thought Institute “Edgar Morin”,
University Ricardo Palma, Lima-Peru.
- Chercheur Associé; Complex Systems Institute (ISC-PIF).

E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]



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[Fis] Fwd: Closing Comments?

[walter . riofrio]

 Dear FIS colleagues, 
We could talk on different aspects of the information notion. 
My approach is only to try to relate information with cognition. How
from network of molecular dynamics, cognition and consciousness
appeared in the universe?  
In other words, my interest is very limited and focused only in a
naturalistic approach to the emergence of semantics of information
(1). 
In this respect, I propose that “information with meaning” is
the very nature of biological information (bio-meaning). 
I claim that signs in biological systems (and in pre-biotic systems
as well) are related to matter–energy transformations as they are
incorporated into the system as ‘variations’.  
In turn, these variations become biological information—always
with bio-meaning—because they impact cohesion, maintaining,
increasing or even decreasing the far from thermodynamic equilibrium
state. 
From its initial emergence in the physical world, we can hypothesize
that bio-meaning has the ability of increasing its levels of
complexity and sophistication all the way up to the human world. 
Meaning and biological information were connected at their very
beginning, and this bond conditioned the evolution of both notions
well into the abstract levels of human culture. 
Due to this fact, it is possible the emergence of natural
computations revealed in the emergence of first small world features
in evolution (2). 
Lastly, if we agree that, in the long run of an open-ended
evolution, the neurons are the cells specialized in transmitting the
signals of different matter-energy variations coming  

from the environment by means of the digital action potentials
between neurons, and if we furthermore assume that these
transmissions “add” certain ways of recognizing the different
matter-energy variations, then it is possible to achieve some
clarifications about the emergence of mental properties (3). 
May it be that the constraints of the acoustic information flow due
to the topological distribution of neural populations control the
ways in which the information is transmitted. 
The specific distribution of neural cell types (in particular,
inhibitory neurons) producing gradients of inhibition and/or
excitatory signals are linked, we assume, to mental rules: the
grammar of the mind? 
References 
(1)  Riofrio, W. and Aguilar, L.A. (2010a) Different Neurons
Population Distribution correlates with Topologic-Temporal Dynamic
Acoustic Information Flow. In Unifying Themes in Complex Systems (New
England Complex Systems Institute Book Series: Volume VI), edited by  
A.A. Minai, D. Braha and Y. Bar-Yam.  Springer, pp. 227-234. [1]  
(2) Riofrio, W. (2008) Understanding the Emergence of Cellular
Organization. Biosemiotics, 1(3): 361-377.  
(3) Riofrio, W. (2010b) On Biological Computing, Information and
Molecular Networks. In Thinking Machines and the Philosophy of
Computer Science: Concepts and Principles, edited by J. Vallverdú.
IGI Global, pp. 53-65.  
Happy Holidays! 
Sincerely, 
Walter 
 

Walter Riofrio 
 Researcher IPCEM, University Ricardo Palma. Lima-Perú 
 Chercheur Associé; Complex Systems Institute-Paris (ISC-PIF) 
 Theoretical and Evolutionary Biology 
 Email: walter.riof...@iscpif.fr [2]   
 --- 
  - Original Message -
  From: Pedro C. Marijuan pcmarijuan.i...@aragon.es
  To: fis@listas.unizar.es
  Cc: 
  Sent: mié 15/12/10 10:29
  Subject: Fwd: [Fis] Closing Comments?
 FIS Friends,
 Like in most of our excursions, in the present one we have stumbled
upon a very interesting and exciting attractor. Rather than
throwing ourselves into a deep discussion about the modes of social
knowing and their historical interrelationship my suggestion is that
we sidestep them and make some concluding comments on the ongoing
discussion by coming back to the final questions of Prof. Zhong
(Yixin in our friendly environment!). I will pen them at the bottom.
Concerning the modes of knowledge discussion, next weeks I will make
a proposal in order to have it as our next discussion session
(immediately after this one, or perhaps after another session which
has been tentatively demanded about an axiomatic approach to
information theory.)
 Let me make another suggestion. In the concluding comments it would
be important trying to be as boldest as possible, as well as hearing
new voices related to neuroscience, cellular-molecular biology,
physics, and artificial intelligence. Thus I kindly demand to the
active group of philosophically oriented parties, and to everybody
else, to momentarily keep at bay the critical comments --only
positive reactions (Christmas time!). All parties who have

Re: [Fis] The State of the Art - Discussion of Information Science Education

[walter . riofrio]

  

Dear all, 
It is possible find some useful ideas to build multi-inter-trans
disciplinary approaches in last “closing statement” of Ubiquity
Symposium: What is Computation? 
What Have We Said About Computation? [1] 
If you are interested in all papers of this ACM Ubiquity Symposium: 
http://ubiquity.acm.org/symposia.cfm [2] 
Sincerely, 
Walter Riofrio 
 

Walter Riofrio 
 Researcher; Complex Thought Institute Edgar Morin – University
Ricardo Palma, Lima-Peru 
 Chercheur Associé; Institut des Systèmes Complexes – Paris
Île-de-France (ISC-PIF)
 Theoretical and Evolutionary Biology 
 Email: walter.riof...@iscpif.fr

--- 
 On jue 08/12/11 06:25 , John Collier colli...@ukzn.ac.za sent:
   Good to see that fis perspectives are used in teaching. I use
information ideas fundamentally in our second year Cognitive Science
course, and also in some postgrad courses I teach.
 John
 At 03:03 PM 2011/12/07, Pedro C. Marijuan wrote:
 Thanks a lot, Gordana. It is a very good idea. Unfortunately I could
not participate in the opening of the session,  well, at least I can
say now that I had the experience of teaching for Engineering graduate
students two neatly informational (FIS) disciplines. One of them,
Bioinformation: informational analysis of living systems; and the
other Science, Technology and Society: an introduction to the
informational history of societies.  Both of them in Spanish. They
were very successful, particularly the latter. The FIS perspective is
ideal not only for breaking down on impossible topics (our familiar
demons) but also for promoting a new, highly original way of analysis
--of knolweldge recombination processes-- on topics of our time and of
the most contentious past. 
 missing a lot the direct involvement in the discussions!
 yours,
 ---Pedro
 Gordana Dodig-Crnkovic escribió: 
 Hi All,
 One way of looking at the question of curriculum would be from the
point of view of what already exists
 of education in the Foundations of Information.
 Are there any courses which might be a part of such a curriculum?
 To start with I can tell about the course I have, which does not
cover much of Science of information, but there are several
connections.
 As I work at the computer science department, my perspective is
computational.
 For me computing is information processing and information is that
which is processed, and that which is a result of processing. 
 Processing may be done by a machine or by an organism or anything
else – the whole of nature computes (processes information) in
different ways.
 As info-computationalist, I believe that information is unthinkable
without computation.
 So the course is on Computing and Philosophy but addresses Philosophy
of Information and Science of Information as well and topics on
evolution of life, intelligence (natural and artificial),
consciousness, etc.   http://www.idt.mdh.se/kurser/comphil [3]
 I believe it would be good to have a course on the foundations of
information science for people in the computing.
 Information and computation are completely entangled! And this gives
also an opportunity to introduce other fields into computing, to
contribute to building bridges and 
 facilitating inter-disciplinary/ cross-disciplinary/
trans-disciplinary  learning.
 This is not as ambitious as the original question, but can help
understanding where we are now and where we want to be.
 Best wishes,
 Gordana
 http://www.mrtc.mdh.se/~gdc/ [4] 
 From:  fis-boun...@listas.unizar.es [
mailto:fis-boun...@listas.unizar.es] On Behalf Of Stanley N Salthe
 Sent: den 5 december 2011 20:53
 To: fis
 Subject: Re: [Fis] Discussion of Information Science Education
 And it could feature in 'Science for Non-Majors' courses as well.
 STAN
 On Mon, Dec 5, 2011 at 12:44 PM, Guy A Hoelzer  wrote:
 Hi All,
 I agree with those who are suggesting that Information Science makes
sense
 as a widely useful way to think about different scientific
disciplines
 even if we don't have a strong consensus on how to define
'information'.
 I think there is enough coherence among views of 'information' to
underpin
 the unity and universality of the approach.  Perhaps Information
Science
 is less a discipline of its own and more of a common approach to
 understanding that can be applied across disciplines.  While I can
imagine
 good courses focusing on Information Science, it might be most
productive
 to include a common framework for information-based models/viewpoints
 across the curriculum.
 Guy Hoelzer
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[Fis] Physics of computing

[walter . riofrio]

Thanks John and Kevin to update issues in information,
computation, energy and reality.
I would like point out to other articles more focused
in how coherence and entanglement are used by living systems (far from thermal
equilibrium): 

Engel G.S., Calhoun T.R., Read E.L., Ahn T.K., Mancal
T., Cheng Y.C., Blankenship R.E., Fleming G.R. (2007) Evidence for wavelike
energy transfer through quantum coherence in photosynthetic systems. Nature,
446(7137): 782-786.

Collini E., Scholes G. (2009) Coherent intrachain
energy in migration in a conjugated polymer at room temperature. Science, vol. 323 No. 5912 pp. 369-373.

Gauger E.M., Rieper E., Morton J.J.L., Benjamin S.C., Vedral V. (2011) Sustained Quantum Coherence and Entanglement in the
Avian Compass. Phys. Rev. Lett., 106: 040503.

Cia, J. et al, (2009)
Dynamic entanglement in oscillating molecules. arXiv:0809.4906v1 [quant-ph]


Sincerely,


Walter

  

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