[Fis] "no new and doubtful physical concepts need to be introduced"

[john.holgate at ozemail.com.au]

Steven, Joe

I always understood that the action of information is the introduction of 'new and doubtful concepts' (Bateson's 'news of a difference that makes a difference') and is in fact predicated on doubt, probability, uncertainty. 

John H
-------- Original Message ---------
 Dear List,
A few days ago Joseph Brenner wrote the following :
… I conclude that no new and doubtful physical concepts need to be
introduced to address the essential aspects of life, mind, and
information. That information has dual aspects has been more or less
explicit in everything I have tried to write in the last eight years.
This has bothered me from a number of perspectives, it sounds
reasonable but is in fact deeply flawed. I worry that others may take
it seriously and so I step from the shadows. The argument seems to be
an advocacy of dualism and information mysterianism, but I doubt that
Joe sees it this way. 
For example, consider the biophysical motions necessarily involved in
sensation, thought, and consideration when going to the store and the
selective motions when reaching the store. Joe suggests that the dual
aspects of information in a conventional physics is sufficient to
explain these actions or motions, I simply cannot accept this. It is
rather like saying that gravitation and electromagnetism are dual
aspects of matter - and even though we have two clear and mathematical
theories of each no physicist believes that this is the case.
I am especially concerned with the introduction here of the dismissive
idea of “doubtful physical concepts” that seem to me to open the
door of judgementalism. 
As a reminder, Relativity was once considered a “doubtful physical
concept.” 
Can anyone defend Joe’s position? 
Regards,Steven
 --
    Dr. Steven Ericsson-Zenith, Los Gatos, California.
+1-650-308-8611
    http://iase.info [1]



Links:
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