The Good Place

I have only modest background read folks like J. Kim (the best), Smart and Armstrong.  I would respond to quotes from Physicalism proponents.

Information is different from Physics in the "properties in the universe" expressed as math equations.  They have different measurement criteria, where one measures forces and materials and the other abstractions like order and organization.  There are points of intersection and information theory clearly has been developed from ideas in physics.  I am not much for "properties" and am more comfortable talking about dispositions and propensity.  


Physics can measure the mass and energy of particles.  However, entanglement is observed as an informational event.

What's your definition of Information? Perhaps starting from that vantage point we can move forward. Also perhaps some references/quotes from the authors you note. (For example if we're thinking of the same J.Kim.)

I think what I am missing is where Physics in your examples is lacking. I can see, for example, in ITT where Information plays a role. But here I don't see what Physics is missing and you are adding? How is Physics lacking in explaining past/future states in a way that Information makes up for?

Don't get me wrong, I think Physics misses a lot about reality - Intrinsic Qualities, Present Time, the Reason for Causation & Constants - but what I am unable to grasp is where your examples show the necessary lack that Information serves to fulfill?

I see absolutely nothing lacking in the current state of empirical Physics.  That is not to say that measurement equipment are reaching down to smaller and up to bigger scales.  Physics has some over-reaching in its modern days, such as string theory and multiverses.  They are not physics until empirically confirmed.  

Physics and information science math formulations work together to reveal structure in pragmatic observations.  Channel capacity is a great example.  This trend of of clearly separating physical science units from informational science units will increase as time goes on.  Look at how swiftly bioinformatics are rewriting our biological history!!

Physics models can explain past and future predictions with great precision.  But it is only probabilistic findings, until a direct test can happen   It is just not empirical work!  No testing in the past or future takes place directly.  There is just a belief in the "unreasonable effectiveness of math" as indirect testing.  Science gains insight into the past and future predictions - as information.  Empirical work only happens in a very narrow sections of time.

Time machines to test the physical conditions in the past or future is not yet available.  

What's your definition of Information? Perhaps starting from that vantage point we can move forward. Also perhaps some references/quotes from the authors you note. (For example if we're thinking of the same J.Kim.)

http://www.informationphilosopher.com/so...phers/kim/

Here's one take by the same Bob Doyle as in the above link.(the information philosopher) 

 Information philosophy settles deep philosophical issues about absolute and relative identity. All material objects are self-identical, despite concerns about vague boundaries. All objects have relations with other objects that can be interpreted as relative identities. All objects are identical to other objects in some respects and different qua other respects.
Two numerically distinct objects can be perfectly identical (x = x) internally, if their intrinsici nformation content is identical. Relational (extrinsic) information with other objects and positions in space and time is ignored. The Greeks called intrinsic information pros heauto or idios poion. Aristotle and the Stoics called this the peculiar qualities of an individual
.
They distinguished peculiar properties from the material substrate, which they called hupokeimenon, the "underlying. Extrinsic information is found in an object's relations with other objects and space and time. The Greek terms were pros ta alla, toward others, and pros ti pos echon, relatively disposed.

Just as the mind is like software in the brain hardware, the abstract information in a material object is the same kind of immaterial stuff as the information in an abstract entity, a concept or a "non-existent object." Some philosophers say that such immaterial things "subsist," rather than exist.

Broadly speaking, the distinction between concrete and abstract objects corresponds to the distinction between the material and the ideal. Ideas in minds are immaterial. They need the matter of the brain to be embodied and some kind of energy to be communicated to other minds. But they are not themselves matter or energy. Those "eliminativists" who believe the natural world contains only material things deny the existence of ideas and immaterial information.
The bits of information are the logical atoms of Russell and Wittgenstein.

And information philosophy is a "correspondence theory."
Think of the isomorphisms between John Wheeler's "its" and "bits."

[M]atter, which we can now define only as that which satisfies the laws of physics, may be spirit insofar as... the spirit conforms to the mental operations of distinguishing and objectifying. We can explain causally... precisely to the degree to which spiritual reality can be objectified; in this objectified form it is called... matter.

[I]n the history of philosophy this identity has been variously expressed by asserting that the final reality is spiritual; what... we call matter is the mode in which this final reality is perceived by itself as alienated from itself.

--C.F. von Weizsäcker

Unite us all until oblivion. What's the point of that ?

http://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p06wv1q3/w...-pointless

http://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p06wv1q3/w...-pointless

Malf, I'm not quite sure why you've taken it upon yourself to recommend (to me) a course of positive thinking. I can only assume my interest in NDE's has lead you to believe I have some kind of desperate need to comfort (delude) myself against the harsh reality of life? Thanks so much for thinking of me, Malf ! The depth and value of that little "homily" will give me immense comfort when my time comes.
Like a fool, when I'm about to take my last breath,  I will strive to cultivate thoughts of love and joy as I face eternal extinction !