[FRIAM] alternative response

[Steve Smith]

And in yet another a parallel (tangetial?) thread on QM, free will, and
Life.
I think this is an *interestingly different* or at least *complementary*
ontological commitment:

    *Many-worlds interpretation of quantum theory, mesoscopic anthropic
    principle and biological evolution*

    /Worlds Interpretation of Quantum Theory. Realizing the multiplicity
    of worlds it provides an opportunity of explanation of some
    important events which are assumed to be extremely improbable. The
    Mesoscopic Anthropic Principle suggested here is aimed to explain
    appearance of such events which are necessary for emergence of Life
    and Mind. It is complementary to the Cosmological Anthropic
    Principle explaining the fine tuning of fundamental constants. We
    briefly discuss various possible applications of the Mesoscopic
    Anthropic Principle including the Solar Eclipses and assembling of
    complex molecules. Besides, we address the problem of Time’s Arrow
    in the framework of the ManyWorlds Interpretation. We suggest the
    recipe for disentangling of quantities defined by fundamental
    physical laws and by an anthropic selection. The main emphasis is
    made on the problem of the biological evolution./

https://arxiv.org/pdf/1302.5545.pdf


On 6/17/20 1:44 PM, Steve Smith wrote:
>
> Despite my reputation for doing otherwise, I don't *intend* to
> splatter this already splattered thread, but I can't help observing
> that from what little biosemiotics I am familiar with, it seems like
> what we are hashing significantly overlaps their core tenets.
>
> From Biosemiotics (Hoffmeyer, von Uexkull):
>
>     “[i]n a world where nothing was predictable, Life would be out of
> a job” (Hoffmeyer, Signs 28).
>
> https://www.google.com/books/edition/Signs_of_Meaning_in_the_Universe/L5nSVthCFzUC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22on+nature%27s+tendency+to+acquire+habits%22&pg=PA24&printsec=frontcover
>
>     "Meaning is the guiding star that biology must follow. The rule of
>     causality is a poor guide: causal relationships deal only with
>     antecedents and consequences, thereby completely concealing from
>     us broad biological interrelationships and interactions11 (Meaning
>     43)."
>
> https://revistas.pucsp.br/index.php/cognitiofilosofia/article/viewFile/30210/21688#:~:text=In%20the%20relation%20between%20the,star%20that%20biology%20must%20follow.
>
> My summary of the issues is roughly that what makes "life" unique from
> all other forms/organizations of matter is the *apparent* ability/goal
> of sensing/predicting/acting.  
>
> - Steve
>
>
>
> On 6/17/20 12:29 PM, ∄ uǝlƃ wrote:
>> Yes! That's an excellent example of when faith is useful. I've argued that that particular usage isn't canonical, though. The canon I learned was that faith is a truncation of inference useful in many types of circumstance. In the end, it boils down to let's just get on with it and see what happens ... as opposed to hand-wringing and worrying - analysis paralysis. I also think it plays an important role in hypothesis formation. E.g. if we take physics *seriously*, there must be some thing, XYZ, that plays the role of a magnetic monopole. Such "taking seriously" is an act of (revocable) faith. I.e. you don't have to stop the presses and derive everything from first principles ever day all day, arguing about fundamental concepts ... you just get on with it and see what happens. Relatedly, the "shut up and calculate" accusation is really a strawman. Everyone *wants* to go deeper. But many of us have jobs, and grass to mow, and children to raise, etc. We can't spend all our time thinking about the One True Meaning of "free will".
>>
>>
>> On 6/17/20 11:09 AM, Gary Schiltz wrote:
>>> Maybe this has a lot to do with why people have "faith", they just get tired of trying to figure it all out, and it is so much easier to accept what a large group of your peers tells you. I think true wisdom starts when one realizes those limitations.
>
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