From external to internal measurement: a form theory approach to evolution

Area of Science:

• Thermodynamics
• Evolutionary Biology
• Information Theory

Background:

• Traditional explanations of life focus on digitally encoded information from an external viewpoint.
• Internal observer perspectives explain form-centered approaches in biological systems.
• Controversies in thermodynamics and evolution stem from shifting between external and internal measurement viewpoints.

Purpose of the Study:

• To reconcile external (digital information) and internal (form-centered) perspectives on life.
• To explore the role of self-organizing agents and local measurements in open systems.
• To integrate Chaitin's algorithmic information theory with biological form and function.

Main Methods:

• Contrasting equilibrium thermodynamics (external measurement) with far-from-equilibrium thermodynamics (internal measurement).
• Applying Chaitin's algorithmic approach to link digital information with active biological forms.
• Analyzing the mapping between genetic descriptions and functional shapes (e.g., RNA).

Main Results:

• Interactions between living entities are viewed as reciprocal measurement processes.
• These processes lead to couplings (shortened descriptions, local entropy decrease) balanced by record erasure (entropy increase).
• Form and shape are crucial for pattern recognition and establishing measurement standards.

Conclusions:

• A form-centered, internal dynamics approach is essential for understanding life.
• This perspective allows integration of Lamarckian and neutral evolution theories.
• It expands the neo-Darwinian evolutionary framework by incorporating self-organization and internal measurement.