In the
Role of Mutations thread Scrutinizer has suggested that Gitt information would be the meaningful measure of information content for genetics rather than Shannon information/entropy. Leaving the comparative merits of Shannon and Gitt information I can't actually see how gitt information can possibly be measured without making a whole host of unwarranted assumption.
AIG host a
paper by Gitt discussing his measure of information.
Gitt puts forward a number of empirical principles concerning information which to me look like nothing but complete assumptions based on a preconcieved endpoint.
1. No information can exist without a code.
2. No code can exist without a free and deliberate convention.
3. No information can exist without the five hierarchical levels: statistics, syntax, semantics, pragmatics and apobetics.
4. No information can exist in purely statistical processes.
5. No information can exist without a transmitter.
6. No information chain can exist without a mental origin.
7. No information can exist without an initial mental source; that is, information is, by its nature, a mental and not a material quantity.
8. No information can exist without a will.
In what way are these empirical principles? In the absence of a way to actually measure Gitt information, something Gitt unaccountably forgets to provide, all we are left with is subjective pontifications and no way to conceivably support these 'priniciples' empirically.
I wonder how Gitt would describe all the information we glean daily from the natural world, perhaps he would ascribe that ultimately to an intelligent source as well or come up with an alternative term for it rather than information.
Is there any way to actually measure Gitt information?
We will never be able to show creationists an increase in genetic information if they will not agree on a quantititative measure of information they are prepared to accept.
Is Gitt information useful as anything other than a vague and shifty goalpost for creationists to use?
TTFN,
WK
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