quote:
Is there an example of a known natural process that will increase the information content?
Maybe, maybe not. So far I have not seen a real definition of information. As NosyNed said in his response, you need to provide a definition of "information". To be a scientific definition, it must meet the following requirements:
(1) Since the claim is that information cannot increase, information must be a number. So you must provide a means of calculating this number. Given the genome of a random organism, show us how to calculate the "information" for that genome. If you cannot do this, then your statement is meaningless.
(2) You must show that no process can make this number increase. Given a genome of an orgainism, and the genome of the same organism but with one or two mutations, you must show that when you calculate the information of these two genomes, the number associated with the second is less than that of the first. I would prefer a description of physical mechanisms that prevent this; however, a mathematical proof will be interesting provided you list the simplifications and assumptions that you make. If you cannot do this, then your claim is simply an undemonstrated assertion.
(3) You must show that this concept of "information" is relevant to the theory of evolution. That is, you must show why the evolution of, say, a semi-quadripedal ape into modern humans involves an increase of "information" and so cannot happen (provided that you have completed step (2) above). If you cannot do this, then your claim is irrelevant to evolution and may be ignored.
Added by edit:
Oops. I just noticed that Garrett is in the process of getting a PNT on this topic approved.
This message has been edited by Chiroptera, 13-Feb-2006 05:26 PM
"Intellectually, scientifically, even artistically, fundamentalism -- biblical literalism -- is a road to nowhere, because it insists on fidelity to revealed truths that are not true." -- Katha Pollitt
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