Information Theory attempts to quantify and mathematically represent information.
Information can be broken down into the base language of distinction (e.g. one and the other, or zero and one)
There is no universal law that states the universe is distinct; in fact spiritual traditions often point to Non-Dualistic Experience as a state of consciousness in experiencing the universe as one or whole.
Symbols, such as "A" or "1" inherently discretize the world, so that we may be point at a distinct elements and combine logic of those distinct elements.
One simple way of illustrating this:
However, each time a map is "impressed upon" a person (e.g. one's experience and learnings shaping another's experience of sensory input), information theory goes from theory to instantiated perspective.
The process of Mimetic Diffusion within a Mimetic Marketplace leads to a shaping of the territory, since other agents (with perspectives and "maps" like Left/Right, Liberal/Conservative) are essentially the environment by which a particular person grows and evolves within.
What is an Information Theoretic Lens on that world and universe from a consilience perspective?
Viewing the world and the universe through an information-theoretic lens, especially from a consilience perspective, involves understanding the nature, dynamics, and complexity of information as a foundational principle that underpins the physical, biological, social, and cognitive domains. This approach integrates insights from various disciplines, aiming to create a unified framework that elucidates the principles governing the emergence, evolution, and organization of complex systems.
Information Theory Fundamentals
Information theory, initially developed by Claude Shannon, provides a mathematical framework for quantifying the information content in messages and the capacity of communication channels to transmit information. In the context of the universe, this framework can be extended to analyze and quantify the information content and transfer in physical systems, biological entities, and even social structures.
Consilience: Integrating Knowledge Across Disciplines
Consilience, a term popularized by E.O. Wilson, refers to the unity of knowledge, the principle that evidence from independent, unrelated sources can converge on robust conclusions. Applying an information-theoretic lens from a consilience perspective involves synthesizing insights from physics, biology, cognitive science, and social sciences to build a coherent understanding of how information fundamentally shapes the universe and our experience within it.
In essence, an information-theoretic lens on the world and universe, informed by a consilience perspective, seeks to unravel the tapestry of existence by understanding information as a fundamental essence that permeates and connects the various domains of reality. It's an endeavor to construct a grand narrative that not only describes but also explains the intricate dance of matter, life, consciousness, and society through the universal language of information.