Information and the Nature of Reality: From Physics to Metaphysics

by Paul C.W. Davies, Niels Henrik Gregersen (Editor)

Many scientists regard mass and energy as the primary currency of nature. In recent years, however, the concept of information has gained importance. Why? In this book, eminent scientists, philosophers and theologians chart various aspects of information, from quantum information to biological and digital information, in order to understand how nature works. Beginning with a historical treatment of the topic, the book also examines physical and biological approaches to information, and its philosophical, theological and ethical implications.

Genres: Science, Philosophy, Physics, Religion, Nonfiction, Biology

505 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 23, 2010

About the author

Paul Charles William Davies AM is a British-born physicist, writer and broadcaster, currently a professor at Arizona State University as well as the Director of BEYOND: Center for Fundamental Concepts in Science. He has held previous academic appointments at the University of Cambridge, University of London, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, University of Adelaide and Macquarie University. His research interests are in the fields of cosmology, quantum field theory, and astrobiology. He has proposed that a one-way trip to Mars could be a viable option.

In 2005, he took up the chair of the SETI: Post-Detection Science and Technology Taskgroup of the International Academy of Astronautics.

Reviews

[Rama Rao · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is our universe pre-ordained with information?

In terms of classical physics, the physical reality may be defined as matter and energy behaving according to the laws of physics in classical spacetime, and the human being is a passive observer of this reality. Consciousness (and the freewill), which operates independently in classical world, determines the ultimate fate. According to quantum physics, matter and energy behave according to the laws of quantum physics in quantized spacetime, and the human observer is an integral part of this reality. Since quantum physics include consciousness as an integral part of its laws, it appears that reality may be pre-ordained with information and the free-will is limited to operating within its domain of quantum reality. In this edited book, the authors propose a fascinating hypothesis that emphasizes information as the primary source of nature, and it is passed on through the laws of physics. This book reviews physical and biological approaches to information and its philosophical and theological implications.

The book starts splendidly with a great introduction to quantum physics and reality but ends in a chapter that claims resurrection of Jesus is supported by the laws of physics. Man-made religions are constructed on the concept of fear; the human being is judged by the morality set by human standards, and he is punished by God for his sin. This immorality of man and mercy of God are highly wired in all faiths. No real connection ever existed between any established religion and physics, and physicists should stay away from fabrication.

Interpretations of quantum physics relates the actual world as rooted in a consciousness that conceives all possible states and actualizes some of them for a reason connected with the evaluation of such states by the consciousness (Many-world interpretation of quantum physics.) This generally results in one set of possible states that gives rise to a universe. We know that consciousness cannot exist without some form of material embodiment. The object of human consciousness is physical or at least sensory, but this may be due to the failure of imagination or human limitation. There may be many kinds of objects of consciousness. Non-physical objects such as mathematical realities and unactualized logical possibilities could be imagined and even experienced. The consciousness that evolved in three spatial dimensions can not comprehend four or higher spatial dimensions of other universes. The caveat is if the consciousness has all possible universes as its object, then it could be a part of all those universes, conversely, it may not be a part of any of them. For quantum physics, cosmic consciousness is primary an ontological reality and it is the supreme principle for constructing the universes and the ultimate ontological reality is information hidden in physics and biology.

[Kevin · Rating 1 out of 5]

An overly-lengthy mixture of science, philosophy and hand-waving "god of the gaps" argument, heavy on the latter and light on the first. If you are looking for a book integrating information theory and cutting-edge physics, look elsewhere.

[Harrison · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a collection of essays edited by physicist Paul Davies and theologian Niels Henrik Gregersen on recent developments on the concept of information in physics, biology, and philosophy, which make up three sections of the book (the first section is on history). On the negative side, as with any such anthology, I think the quality varies from author to author, and even section to section. The first two parts on history and physics are the strongest, those that trace the development of the materialistic worldview from ancient to modern (and postmodern) times. Highlights include Ernan McMullin and Philip Clayton's account of the history of philosophy and the implications of quantum theory, as well as the essays by Paul Davies, Seth Lloyd, and Henry Stapp on how information applies to physics, the idea of the universe as a quantum computer, and the possible analogies to be made between quantum theory and mind.

I think parts three and four, on information in biology and theology, are the weakest (wordy, rambling, imprecise), and the only real highlight for me in the last section was Keith Ward's essay on "God as the ultimate information principle." The essays in the final section are pretty much all from a Christian point of view, and it would have been nice to have more variety of worldviews. (Personal bias: While I do not consider myself Christian, I find David Ray Griffin's writings on similar subjects to be much clearer, well-argued, and universal in scope, despite his own Christian perspective.) And considering the subject matter, I found it disappointing that every author who discussed Darwin or neo-Darwinism just blindly accepted that worldview (often with a pithy remark), without acknowledging any of the problems with those theories, especially those that relate to the idea of information. Griffin, for example, who does not support intelligent design or creationism, acknowledges these difficulties in his books. That said, despite the occasional boring, overly wordy, or uninformative (no pun intended) contribution, I did find many pieces of insight scattered about throughout the book. The book as a whole (***) makes for a good introduction to information theory and the applications to various sciences. But it really is a mixed bag and not one I foresee re-reading in its entirety.

[Kelly Head · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of essays grew out of a symposium held in Copenhagen in 2006 organized by the Templeton Foundation, a longtime contributor to the dialogue between science and religion. Some heavy-hitting physicists, philosophers, and theologians contribute to this volume, including Paul Davies, Seth Lloyd, John Haught, Keith Ward, and Arthur Peacocke, to name a few. I first became interested in this book after discovering it while trying to learn more about the concept of information as a physical property. There is plenty to illuminate this angle of the concept, but so much more as well. At times, the Christian-bias of some of the authors becomes a bit overwhelming. For example, though much is made of the Logos Christology in John and throughout early Christianity, the Logos concept of creation could just as easily fit into a Platonized Judaism or a pre-Socratic Heraclitean tradition. There is no doubt that the Gospel of John draws on the Word of God language in Genesis to describe the pre-existent Logos, i.e. second person of the Trinity, but this language would have been intelligible to both Jews and Greeks as a metaphor for structuring reality. The distinctions between Shannon’s concept of information and various other conceptions particularly helped illuminate the issue for me, and I found the editors’ essays in this volume to be the most scientifically interesting.

Preview on Google Books: http://books.google.com/books?id=0k6o...

[Chris Marks · Rating 2 out of 5]

As expected, there was a lot of religion, apologists for religion, and speculation bordering on mysticism. However, several chapters are worthwhile, especially those by Davies and Deacon. I'm sorry I forced myself to read it all; better to pick and choose.

[سارة ياقوت · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overview of some of the with a focus on information with it’s various aspects. For a non-specialist it might feel hard to read at many places. Some ideas need some knowledge. Each chapter is a standalone essay written by a prominent philosopher theorist or scientist. More like an overview of some of the main ideas.

The first part about history is a very good and clear overview of the history of the concept of matter in western philosophy and sciences. It was mostly written in a clear and organized way.

Second part had some of the most interesting chapters about quantum physics, especially the one by Paul Davis.

The third part was the hardest to grasp for me. The chapter about semiotics in biology was totally new to me and required some freshening up my knowledge of semiotics. The chapter about what is missing from theories of information was the hardest to grasp for me but once I did, many other things fell into place. I particularly enjoyed Holmes Rolston's chapter about care.

The last part about Christian theology varied in strength of its arguments and theories presented. It overall tried to build upon some of the theories presented earlier in the book, mainly related to information and complexity to find ways to a God could fit in the scientific worldview. I found the first and second chapters to be most well built and argumented of them.

The volume doesn’t give a general collective answer though, nor does it tie it all together. Each writer presents his own answer or theory which might contradict at times with another. But some of the ideas are very interesting indeed. It was one of the hardest and most interesting books I translated.

[Wim Otte · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kwaliteit van essays loopt uiteen. Vooral deel IV (Philosophy and Theology) valt tegen. Michael Welker parafraseert bijv. zijn eerdere opvattingen over spiritual body zonder in te gaan op het hoofdthema van de bundel. Dat is een gemiste kans.

[Hussin Elrashidy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The most mind shifting book I have ever read, I will owe it lots of future readings and ideas.

[Kenneth Bachmann · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first three parts of the book consisted of essays by information theorists, biologists and physicists. This was quite informative. There were even useful framings by the first two essayists of part four, Peacock and Ward. The last three essays were extremely disappointing even recognizing that they were contributed by theologists with almost evangelical missions. For anyone truly interested in trying to understand reality as it relates to information and information theory, I think the first three sections of the book make interesting reading. As for the last few essays; no matter how one dresses up balogna, it's still baloney.

[Hugo Villalobos Canto · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un libro muy interesante en el que cada capítulo es un ensayo, cada uno de un autor diferente pero todos con el mismo objetivo de establecer un planteamiento teológico a la luz de los avances en los campos teóricos de sistemas complejos, teoría de la información y comportamiento emergente. Algunos capítulos son hermosos y otros intelectualmente motivantes. Un par de ellos, la verdad, no es ni lo uno ni lo otro.

[Eman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been looking for an easy to read introduction to information science in relation to philosophy and origins of the universe and of life. In this book, I found some of the articles illuminating and relevant while others were hard to grasp and hard to relate to the title of the book.However, the diversity of views presented by the different authors helped me see the topic from more than one angle.

[Justin Harnish · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is difficult to find solid scientific or philosophical works on the state of Idealism but this work has a lot of both. Very useful theories that can be presented toe-to-toe against the premiere metaphysics of today, materialism, but that largely stand together and suggest a more fundamental constituent to it or bit. Not 5 stars for its long sections on religion that largely lost the rigor of the philosophical arguments.

[Sam Bruskin · Rating 3 out of 5]

note the upgrade. the writing a 3 at best, but th eideas are 4.

[Andrej Drapal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Majority of articles extremely provokative!

[Shamil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enlightening essays and interesting theories

[Kevin Carson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was interested mainly in Part II.