[Fis] Five Momenta

[Pedro C. Marijuan]

Dear FISers,

In response to the recent philosophical exchanges, and curiously waiting 
to see how Steven solves his final posts (Benjamin Peirce is such an 
unjustly forgotten figure, not to speak about his arch-famous son), let 
me try some new "tangent" on the ongoing debate... I see but five 
different and interrelated "momenta" that should be aligned for the 
hypothetical advancement of the common info field.  The first one 
corresponds to philosophy, as the critical playground where 
dissatisfaction with the existing views should conduce to attempting 
more congenial new ways of thinking. Unsolved problems of the sciences, 
when they are general and affect several disciplines, easily generate 
philosophical debate--which can be helpful to suggest new inroads. 
Saying clearly "nope" to some philosophical and para-philosophical 
schools is quite valuable although it easily generates irritation and 
obfuscation in the concerned parties (that ingredient of "piquancy" also 
enlivens the debates).

The second momentum would correspond to the biomolecular (primordials of 
life and cellular organization). The third momentum would wrap around 
the organismic and the neuronal (the evolutionary outcomes of 
multicellular life up to advanced nervous systems). I think they are so 
obvious that do not deserve further comment.

The fourth momentum involves the roots of human sociality, up to the 
historical development of social complexity. And the fifth momentum 
belongs to the contemporary revolution around communication, 
information, etc. These two social momenta are being egregiously 
forgotten in most of our debates (not any more with the planned 
discussion sessions!)

Unfortunately, none of those momenta --even looking too far away-- 
should be left in the dark. Most of our discussions seem to deal with 
the instrumental aspect, the math theories, constructs, and other 
knowledge bodies that may help to characterize abstractly different 
structures and dynamics where some classes of information seem to be 
involved. It is not difficult to achieve some interesting results in 
those theoretical and para-theoretical realms... but without connecting 
with some of those big momenta, trying to ride on their impetus, it 
won't be significant. 

A new multidisciplinary itinerary is needed--neither the piece meal nor 
the continuous entanglement would work to achieve it. Personally I find 
that the goal is very difficult. Too many things in too very disperse 
realms have to be cohered... So the allure of this crazy story!

All the best--Pedro

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Pedro C. Marijuán
Grupo de Bioinformación / Bioinformation Group
Instituto Aragonés de Ciencias de la Salud
Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Aragón (CIBA)
Avda. San Juan Bosco, 13, planta X
50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Tfno. +34 976 71 3526 (& 6818)
pcmarijuan.iacs at aragon.es
http://sites.google.com/site/pedrocmarijuan/
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