The Physics of Life, Episode 6: Time, a One-Way Sign that Enables Computation as Entropy Enables Creativity

Links after notes on our talk: tightening up a definition of entropy and exploring computational theory and emergence and their underlying implications. When anomalies show up, a new physics is needed. Entropy is more qualitative than quantitative. No creativity without entropy. It takes excess energy to get things over the hump and energy to create order and to maintain order. You can only play the deconstruction game once. Irreversibility is a fundamental aspect of the universe. The universe is fundamentally irreversible. The 2nd law is not driving time but is a consequence of that. The laws of physics appear to be reversible, but is that just a function of the continuous and differentiable functions that physics is using to do the calculations? Physics is always creating mathematical models that describe what we see in the universe around us, not what it is actually doing. Computation: the simplest system is a finite state machine. The memory of the past is gone. Shows irreversibility in computation. Landauer's principle, Landauer's eraser. When you go through a logic gate, you lose information and entropy has gone up. Transistors need to be in a very specific order to be useful. Emergence crosses a barrier when something complicated becomes simple again.

One of the better popular science video channels that tries to tackle the deeper questions in physics. “PBS Space-Time,” https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7_gcs09iThXybpVgjHZ_7g

“Turing machines explained visually, (8:45-duration)” https://youtu.be/-ZS_zFg4w5k “LEGO Turing Machine, (2:22-duration)” https://youtu.be/FTSAiF9AHN4

“Computers Without Memory – Computerphile, (8:51-duration)” https://youtu.be/vhiiia1_hC4

“Understanding Consciousness | Rupert Sheldrake, George Ellis, Amie Thomasson, (43:40-duration)” https://youtu.be/c-QOlTD0YHo

“Closer to Truth, the PBS/public television series on cosmos, consciousness and meaning…,” https://www.closertotruth.com/search/site/emergence

And for those who are more book oriented, and have had no previous exposure to the subject of Emergence, this collection of essays would be an excellent place to start. “The Re-Emergence of Emergence: The Emergentist Hypothesis from Science to Religion,” https://www.amazon.com/Re-Emergence-Emergence-Emergentist-Hypothesis-Religion/dp/019954431X

Phillip Clayton, here’s the real bombshell that the physics of Emergence throws into theology, link to https://www.closertotruth.com/series/why-emergence-significant and listen to his segment posted there.

“What Exists is Not Only Physical | George Ellis,” https://youtu.be/Zx3F73po4YE?t=5

Whole 6 Part series Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoARw9zo4EUZhxqfaqYU5yjy0-Tr8RlB4