The conversation with Fred Skiff, chair of the physics department at the University of Iowa examines why information is the most basic object of study in science and how Conservation of Information naturally leads to the conclusion that intelligence is the ultimate source of information.
Conservation of Information
Is Mathematics falling under the sway of a computerised, AI-driven celebrity-authority culture?
Two recent remarks in VICE (a telling label, BTW) raise some significant concerns. First, Kevin Buzzard — no, this is not Babylon Bee [itself a sign when it is harder and harder to tell reality from satire] — Sept 26th: Number Theorist Fears All Published Math Is Wrong “I think there is a non-zero chance Read More…
Access Research Network’s new Question of the Month
Win a $50 VISA gift card for the deemed best answer to this question: Given the pervasive pattern of “sudden appearance” and “stasis” in the fossil record, does science need a Theory of Stasis or Theory of Conservation to better explain how nature actually functions. Explain. How would such a theory help to strengthen an Read More…
Latemarch on the evolution of AI
Sometimes a comment is too good to leave there in the combox. So: LM, 2 in the AI intelligent agency thread: >>It brought to mind the evolution of AI. It all began with lightning (electrons) striking rocks (silicon) for billions of years (might a nearby warm pond be helpful?) until now we have the delicate Read More…
AI, state/configuration space search and the ID search challenge
In his well-known work, No Free Lunch, p. 11, ID Researcher William A Dembski has illustrated the search challenge concept in terms of an arrow hitting a target amidst a reference class of possibilities. In so doing, he reaches back to the statistical mechanical and mathematical concept of a phase space “cut down” to address Read More…
Upright Biped’s summary on information systems in cell based life
UD participant Upright Biped (of Complexity Cafe U/D: Biosemiosis) has commented recently in the what is knowledge thread, replying to frequent objector CR by summarising key aspects of the role of information systems in observed cell based life. His remarks are well worth headlining: __________________ UB, 195: >>We can start by summarizing the core physical Read More…
GP on the Origin of Body Plans [OoBP] challenge
. . . here (at 194) in his amazing engineering thread as he responds to Dionisio: >>Dionisio: Thank you for summarizing that interesting discussion. I will summarize it even more. 1) Nobody knows how morphogenesis is controlled and guided. 2) Moran is no exception to that. 3) “Experts” are no exception to that. 4) However, Read More…
To Err is Human: Error in comparing African-Euro genomes
Error found in study of first ancient African genome “Finding that much of Africa has Eurasian ancestry was mistaken.” . . .
Aurelio Smith’s Analysis of Active Information
Recently, Aurelio Smith had a guest publication here at Uncommon Descent entitled Signal to Noise: A Critical Analysis of Active Information. Most of the post is taken up by a recounting of the history of active information. He also quotes the criticisms of Felsentein and English which have responded to at Evolution News and Views: These Critics Read More…
Signal to Noise: A Critical Analysis of Active Information
The following is a guest post by Aurelio Smith. I have invited him to present a critique of Active Information in a more prominent place at UD so we can have a good discussion of Active Information’s strengths and weaknesses. The rest of this post is his.
Shoutout to Tom English: How much of the animus you display against Marks and Dembski is scholarly?
One hopes that further critical review of Marks and Dembski’s papers focuses on the issues at hand.
Guided tour of no free lunch theorems
So … if this is correct … Darwinism isn’t so much wrong as impossible.
Would greater DNA harm enhance evolution or degradation?
Mutations are used to explain evolution but also cause cancer. Biologists have discovered conditions for multiple mutations. Can we therefore infer that evolution via mutations is more likely? or that enhanced mutations will cause faster species degradation and extinction? Biologists describe mechanism promoting multiple DNA mutations DNA mutations—long known to fuel cancer as well as Read More…
Further to Bill Dembski at U Chicago, July 16 in Seattle
free with preregistration
Catch Bill Dembski on Conservation of Information at U Chicago, August 13
Dembski: Natural selection cannot create the information that enables evolution to be successful, but at best redistributes already existing information.