Information as the source of life; Davies opinion (Introduction)

by David Turell , Thursday, January 31, 2019, 15:16 (2122 days ago) @ dhw

QUOTE: "Similar machines are found in biology. Constructed from proteins, they chunter away inside living cells where they manipulate information at the nanoscale.”
"Davies believes that life will turn out to bear telltale patterns of information processing that distinguish it from non-life. Few people would argue that a computer is alive no matter how the ones and zeroes zip around inside it. What Davies suspects is that life exploits, and arises from, particular patterns of information flow. (David’s bold)

dhw: See below for “arises from”. I would like to know what Davies believes actually does the information processing, i.e. what it is that chunters away inside living cells and “manipulates” or “exploits” information. (“Life” doesn’t exploit anything – that is done by living organisms.)

This is all concepts about the use of information in the genome. Obviously the information in the genome is available for the cells to use. We still don 't have a laid-bare description of how it works.

QUOTE: “'When you look at a living system, the way information is managed is very far from random.”

dhw: Precisely. And what “manages” information? Quite categorically he dismisses your God as the processor/manipulator, so out go your God-given instructions: “Religious people have got to move on and get away from the idea that there’s a superbeing who fits it all up.”

He has his approach, I have mine, but we both are recognizing the importance of the information that is obviously present. When I first introduced the concept of information running life to you, you were startled an d resisted the idea. I won't bother looking for quotes.

QUOTE: "Most radical, though, is Davies’s proposal that any laws of information that shape life might favour its emergence too. Under this scenario, life would not arise on habitable planets by random chance but would be nurtured by “biofriendly” rules. It is the kind of teleological argument that many scientists reject, but one that Davies cannot help finding attractive.”
"He concedes: “It is wishful thinking because at this stage I can’t demonstrate it.”

dhw: Yes, the origin of life (and of the mechanisms of evolution) is the great problem. His hypothesis (natural laws) is as attractive to the atheist as God is to the theist. And we agnostics stay on our fence.

DAVID: this is not descriptive information. it is instructional information both as to structure and appropriate reactions to stimuli. Without this onboard information life would cease to exist. And what created this information? My answer is God. Information without a source is impossible.

dhw: Where have you found “instructional information”, and why can’t you just call it “instructions”? In this article we are simply not told what processes or manipulates or exploits information (but maybe he makes it clear elsewhere). It’s as if you and he both think the word itself has magic explanatory properties. Of course all information has a source: you can’t have facts and details about a subject without having a subject. We humans extract the passive information from everything we can set our eyes and minds on, then we actively use it. And in certain contexts we even create information that isn’t there!

Yes, exactly. The genome creates the structure of organisms and offers ways for appropriate responses to stimuli.