Information Originates in Symmetry Breaking
Authors |
|
Abstract |
We find symmetry attractive. It interests us. Symmetry is often an indicator of the deep structure of things, whether they be natural phenomena, or the creations of artists. For example, the most fundamental conservation laws of physics are all based in symmetry. Similarly, the symmetries found in religious art throughout the world are intended to draw attention to deep spiritual truths. Not only do we find symmetry pleasing, but its discovery is often also surprising and illuminating as well. For these reasons, we are inclined to think that symmetries are informative, and that symmetries contain information. On the other hand, symmetries represent a kind of invariance under transformation. Such invariance implies that symmetrical things contain redundancies. Redundancy, in turn, implies that the information content of a symmetrical structure or configuration is less than that of a similar nonsymmetrical structure. Symmetry, then, entails a reduction in information content. These considerations present us with somewhat of a paradox: On the one hand, many symmetries that we find in the world are surprising, and surprise indicates informativeness. On the other hand, the surprise value of information arises because it presents us with the unexpected or improbable, but symmetries, far from creating the unexpected, ensure that the known can be extended through invariant transformations. How can this paradox be resolved?
|
Keywords | No keywords specified (fix it) |
Categories | (categorize this paper) |
Options |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Download options
References found in this work BETA
No references found.
Citations of this work BETA
Beyond the Blank Slate: Routes to Learning New Coordination Patterns Depend on the Intrinsic Dynamics of the Learner—Experimental Evidence and Theoretical Model.Viviane Kostrubiec, Pier-Giorgio Zanone, Armin Fuchs & J. A. Scott Kelso - 2012 - Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 6.
Biosemiotics and Applied Evolutionary Epistemology: A Comparison.Nathalie Gontier & M. Facoetti - 2021 - In In: Pagni E., Theisen Simanke R. (eds) Biosemiotics and Evolution. Interdisciplinary Evolution Research, vol 6. Springer, Cham. Cham: pp. 175-199.
The Thermodynamical Arrow of Time: Reinterpreting the Boltzmann–Schuetz Argument. [REVIEW]Milan M. Ćirković - 2002 - Foundations of Physics 33 (3):467-490.
Will Science and Consciousness Ever Meat? Complexity, Symmetry and Qualia.Roger Vergauwen - 2010 - Symmetry 2 (3):1250-1269.
View all 8 citations / Add more citations
Similar books and articles
Conventional and Objective Invariance: Debs and Redhead on Symmetry. [REVIEW]Sebastian Lutz & Stephan Hartmann - 2010 - Metascience 19 (1):15-23.
Laws, Symmetry, and Symmetry Breaking: Invariance, Conservation Principles, and Objectivity.John Earman - 2004 - Philosophy of Science 71 (5):1227--1241.
The Empirical Status of Symmetries in Physics.P. Kosso - 2000 - British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 51 (1):81-98.
Perfect Symmetries.Richard Healey - 2009 - British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 60 (4):697-720.
Symmetries in Physics: Philosophical Reflections.Katherine Brading & Elena Castellani (eds.) - 2002 - Cambridge University Press.
Analytics
Added to PP index
2009-01-28
Total views
4 ( #1,282,334 of 2,517,922 )
Recent downloads (6 months)
0
2009-01-28
Total views
4 ( #1,282,334 of 2,517,922 )
Recent downloads (6 months)
0
How can I increase my downloads?
Downloads