Behavior of Information

By Luc Claeys

In search of new points of view...

... For better understanding of Nature.

• Preface of first edition
• Preface of second edition
• Part I LIVING INFORMATION
• 1 Living Information
  • 1.1 Information spreads.
  • 1.2 Information evolves.
  • 1.3 Natural selection.
  • 1.4 Crossing.
  • 1.5 Flowering.
  • 1.6 Birth and death.
  • 1.7 Living information.
  • 1.8 Active aspect of information.
  • 1.9 Usage.
• 2 Information beings
  • 2.1 Structure.
  • 2.2 Organism.
  • 2.3 Information being.
  • 2.4 Specialization.
  • 2.5 Behavior.
  • 2.6 Biological life versus information life.
• 3 Information and knowledge
  • 3.1 Using Information.
  • 3.2 Knowledge.
  • 3.3 Information expresses itself.
  • 3.4 Knowledge is Information.
  • 3.5 Broadening our subject.
  • 3.6 Evolution of information.
• Part II ACTIVITY OF INFORMATION
• 4 Abstraction
  • 4.1 Abstraction versus instantiations.
  • 4.2 Building an abstraction.
  • 4.3 Abstraction and learning.
  • 4.4 Use of existing abstractions helps.
  • 4.5 Generalizations and hypothesis.
  • 4.6 Conscious use of hypothesis in science.
  • 4.7 Abstraction and classification.
• 5 Instantiation
  • 5.1 Instantiation.
  • 5.2 Assigning details.
  • 5.3 Instantiating using a given context.
  • 5.4 Sharing smaller abstractions.
  • 5.5 Conditioning.
  • 5.6 Memorizing and remembering.
  • 5.7 Classification.
  • 5.8 Relation between instantiations.
  • 5.9 Hierarchy of abstractness.
• 6 Mapping
  • 6.1 Mapping.
  • 6.2 Restriction of possible instantiations.
  • 6.3 Need for experience.
  • 6.4 Link between worlds.
  • 6.5 Offspring of instantiated information.
  • 6.6 Spreading of the building blocks.
  • 6.7 Propagation of abstract information.
  • 6.8 Mapping for communication.
• 7 Induration of information
  • 7.1 Information becomes stronger.
  • 7.2 Interlocked Information.
  • 7.3 Stable mappings extend like zippers.
  • 7.4 Exceptions.
  • 7.5 Contradiction.
  • 7.6 Induration.
  • 7.7 Strength of an information element.
  • 7.8 Nature of induration.
  • 7.9 Interaction required.
  • 7.10 Symmetrical aspect of an interaction.
  • 7.11 Effect of the environment.
• 8 Insulation
  • 8.1 Insulation.
  • 8.2 Nature of information, nature of induration.
  • 8.3 Pairs of opposites.
  • 8.4 Insulation and time.
  • 8.5 Vertical insulation.
  • 8.6 Gaining experience.
  • 8.7 Short circuit effects.
  • 8.8 Information organization.
  • 8.9 Communication channels.
  • 8.10 Mapping.
• 9 Energy
  • 9.1 Energy.
  • 9.2 Insulation and energy.
  • 9.3 Using energy to insulate.
  • 9.4 Using energy to indurate.
  • 9.5 Using energy to propagate.
  • 9.6 Release of energy.
  • 9.7 Short field and long field effects.
  • 9.8 Insulation and time.
  • 9.9 Attraction and repulsion.
  • 9.10 Collapse.
  • 9.11 Food for information beings.
  • 9.12 Acquiring energy.
  • 9.13 Interaction between information.
  • 9.14 Limited food for information.
  • 9.15 Relativity of truth.
  • 9.16 Protection of abstract information.
• 10 Information and Matter
  • 10.1 Matter.
  • 10.2 Space, time, matter and energy.
  • 10.3 Universe as breeding ground for information.
  • 10.4 Gravity.
  • 10.5 Life.
  • 10.6 Organs of the Universe.
  • 10.7 Evolution.
  • 10.8 Expansion and Collapse of the Universe.
  • 10.9 Distances in the World.
  • 10.10 Constants of nature.
  • 10.11 Cosmos not explained.
  • 10.12 Moving versus copying.
• Part III EVOLUTION OF INFORMATION
• 11 Interaction with environment
  • 11.1 Feedback from the environment.
  • 11.2 Joy / Pain detection.
  • 11.3 Instantiation of complex beings.
  • 11.4 Gaining Experience.
  • 11.5 Ideal Information structure.
  • 11.6 Assimilation of experience.
  • 11.7 Using Experience.
  • 11.8 Development of abstract elements.
  • 11.9 Evolution.
• 12 Model of Environment
  • 12.1 Experience reflects the environment.
  • 12.2 What experience to use?
  • 12.3 Internal context.
  • 12.4 Sensing.
  • 12.5 Insulation from environment, thoughts.
  • 12.6 Thought centers.
  • 12.7 Synchronizing thoughts.
  • 12.8 Fast switching between mappings.
  • 12.9 Analogies.
  • 12.10 Thinking while working.
  • 12.11 Temporary insulation.
  • 12.12 Activity in thought centers.
  • 12.13 The brain.
• 13 Interaction between Thoughts
  • 13.1 Organization of thought centers.
  • 13.2 Coherent thought fields.
  • 13.3 Frequent short contacts.
  • 13.4 Fuzzy borders.
  • 13.5 Protection of abstract elements.
  • 13.6 Our observation point.
  • 13.7 Suggestion from a higher center.
  • 13.8 Further concretization.
  • 13.9 Thinking ahead.
  • 13.10 Concretization of an abstract plan.
  • 13.11 Skew in thoughts.
  • 13.12 Unexpected problems.
  • 13.13 Revision of the higher plan required.
  • 13.14 Molecules.
• 14 Information as organizing force
  • 14.1 Organizing effect of information.
  • 14.2 Externalization.
  • 14.3 Recurrent externalization.
  • 14.4 Need for externalization.
  • 14.5 Balanced opposites.
  • 14.6 Features of the new organism.
  • 14.7 Interaction of abstract elements.
  • 14.8 Instantiation is externalization.
  • 14.9 Entity.
  • 14.10 Mapping.
  • 14.11 Gaining experience.
  • 14.12 Thoughts.
  • 14.13 Deep integration.
  • 14.14 Organizing elements by grasping them.
  • 14.15 Restriction of abstract possibilities.
• 15 Externalization of an organism
  • 15.1 From organism to externalized organism.
  • 15.2 Steps in externalization.
  • 15.3 Interacting cycles - Ongoing evolution.
  • 15.4 Phases of the externalization cycle.
  • 15.5 Model of the external world.
  • 15.6 Increasing awareness.
  • 15.7 Awareness of others of the same kind.
  • 15.8 Competition.
  • 15.9 Communication.
  • 15.10 Point of maximum diversification.
  • 15.11 Abstraction.
  • 15.12 Developing cooperation.
  • 15.13 Developing organization.
  • 15.14 Economy of energy.
  • 15.15 Limitation of individual instantiation.
  • 15.16 Control over the economy of energy.
  • 15.17 Awareness of external factors.
  • 15.18 Development of senses.
  • 15.19 Hierarchy of abstractness.
• 16 Life of an instantiation
  • 16.1 Information life.
  • 16.2 Life of an instantiation.
  • 16.3 Phases of life.
  • 16.4 Life cycle.
  • 16.5 Trigger for new externalization.
  • 16.6 Dreaming of a better externalization.
  • 16.7 Enough energy for new externalization.
  • 16.8 Changed environment, new externalization.
  • 16.9 Preparation for a new externalization.
  • 16.10 Development of the new body.
  • 16.11 Birth.
  • 16.12 Growth.
  • 16.13 Using energy.
  • 16.14 Natural death.
  • 16.15 Violent death.
  • 16.16 Insulation.
  • 16.17 Burning out.
  • 16.18 Long lasting fires.
  • 16.19 Straw fires.
• 17 Evolution of information
  • 17.1 Consecutive manifestations.
  • 17.2 Difficulties.
  • 17.3 New externalizations.
  • 17.4 Desire to change the mapping.
  • 17.5 Ways out.
  • 17.6 Simultaneous existence of externalizations.
  • 17.7 Levels of propagation.
  • 17.8 Use of older building material.
  • 17.9 Breeding grounds.
  • 17.10 Tree of manifestation.
• 18 Awareness and consciousness
  • 18.1 Cooperating elements.
  • 18.2 Awareness of an organism.
  • 18.3 Grasping awareness.
  • 18.4 Externalizing awareness.
  • 18.5 Preliminary stage.
  • 18.6 Elements become aware of each other.
  • 18.7 Developing internal model of the other.
  • 18.8 Taking advantage.
  • 18.9 Equalization of awareness.
  • 18.10 Awareness of an organism.
  • 18.11 From hierarchical to service model.
  • 18.12 Remaining hierarchy.
  • 18.13 Parasites.
  • 18.14 Economy.
  • 18.15 Older and newer externalizations.
  • 18.16 Breeding grounds.
  • 18.17 Inhabitant.
  • 18.18 Soft information controlling an organism.
  • 18.19 Distributed awareness.
  • 18.20 Coherent thought fields.
  • 18.21 Consciousness.
  • 18.22 Gaining control over new externalization.
  • 18.23 Moving versus copying.
  • 18.24 Conscious and unconscious thoughts.
  • 18.25 Boundaries of consciousness.
  • 18.26 Extension of the awareness.
• 19 Individuality and will
  • 19.1 Individuality.
  • 19.2 Entity.
  • 19.3 Different among others of the same kind.
  • 19.4 Unchangeable nature.
  • 19.5 Will.
  • 19.6 Mineral, plant, animal and man.
  • 19.7 Older structures.
  • 19.8 Experience.
• Part IV APPLICATIONS
• 20 Sensing
  • 20.1 Nothing new.
  • 20.2 Sensing as communication.
  • 20.3 Sensing by externalization.
  • 20.4 Sensing by using conditioned elements.
  • 20.5 Passive sensing of changing conditions.
  • 20.6 Active sensing.
• 21 Communication
  • 21.1 Communication.
  • 21.2 Externalization of communication.
  • 21.3 Communication between elements.
  • 21.4 Communication inside an organism.
  • 21.5 Broadcasting.
  • 21.6 Development of senses.
  • 21.7 Internal model of the world.
  • 21.8 Model of own actions in the environment.
  • 21.9 Recognition of actions of others.
  • 21.10 Communication.
  • 21.11 Learning from others.
  • 21.12 Intentional communication output.
  • 21.13 Disconnecting symbols from actions.
  • 21.14 Increasing abstractness of symbols.
  • 21.15 Choice of symbols.
• 22 Chemistry of language
  • 22.1 Expressed knowledge.
  • 22.2 Active information.
  • 22.3 Recognizing structures.
  • 22.4 Mental model.
  • 22.5 Structures.
  • 22.6 Contact with the outside world.
  • 22.7 Energy.
  • 22.8 Context switching.
  • 22.9 Internal attraction and repulsion.
  • 22.10 Open endings.
  • 22.11 Construction of complex models.
  • 22.12 Human thought centers.
  • 22.13 Communication of complex models.
  • 22.14 Similarity with biological molecules.
  • 22.15 Decay of context structures.
  • 22.16 Memory.
• 23 Use of mappings
  • 23.1 Applying the theory.
  • 23.2 Human body and society.
  • 23.3 Human body and its cells.
  • 23.4 More mappings.
  • 23.5 Extrapolation.
• 24 Artificial intelligence
  • 24.1 Human intelligence.
  • 24.2 Grasping intelligence.
  • 24.3 Extracting structure.
  • 24.4 Simulating the brain cells.
  • 24.5 Difficulties.
  • 24.6 Unlimited complexity?
  • 24.7 Limited complexity.
  • 24.8 Memorizing the reflexes of the lowest levels.
  • 24.9 Computers.
  • 24.10 New instantiation.

Related topics and Glossary of terms are available.

Author: Luc Claeys

All comments welcome, mail to lcl at this site: nanohome.be Luc Claeys

Last updated on November 11, 1997