Introduction
Have you ever enjoyed the opportunity – the gift, really – of spending time alone in the woods with Mother Nature? If you have, then you probably know that if you find a good spot to sit quietly and remain still, you can hear the universe whispering to you.
Barely audible, the universe whispers secrets that can be heard in the rustle of leaves overhead, in the murmur of a babbling brook, and in the warble and chirps found in the song of a bird. It speaks to us most loudly through the intricate code of our DNA, a crescendo that grows exponentially until it can only be found in the swirling patterns of galaxies far above us, and the binary expressions of the machines found beneath our fingers. This is the language of information, a language that’s older than life itself, woven into the very fabric of reality.
For centuries, we’ve viewed the universe through the lens of matter, the substance of both stars and stones; and energy, the force that drives motion and change. These have long been considered the fundamental building blocks of reality. But what if there’s a third element, one that’s just as essential, just as powerful? What if information isn’t just something we create, but something that creates us, that shapes the very reality we inhabit?
This idea, this radical shift in perspective, invites us to see reality as an informational construct, a way of seeing the universe as a vast, interconnected web of information; where every interaction, every transformation, involves an intricate dance of data, resulting in a symphony of meaning. It’s a perspective that challenges our assumptions, that pushes us to rethink our place in the cosmic story, and that opens up new vistas of understanding.
Join me as we embark on a journey into the heart of our informational universe, where we’ll discover and explore the nature of information, its relationship to consciousness, and its role in the emergence of meaning and complexity. We’ll delve into the mysteries of the quantum world, the intricate workings of biological systems, and the potential of artificial intelligence. Along the way, we’ll ask some of the biggest questions of all: What is the nature of reality? What is the role of consciousness in the universe? And what is our place in this grand informational tapestry?
I am 73 years of age. In a few days I will be 74. My time on this planet, in this universe, is running out. Yet, I can’t help but feel that this journey I’m inviting you to is one that I have been working up to my whole life. It’s an ironic twist, of course, that only when I achieved the ability to stop working for a living and spend my free time studying and researching questions that have puzzled me for years, do I also find the sand in my personal hour glass swiftly running out. So, this journey means something to me. I hope this exploration will transcend the boundaries of science and philosophy, that it will take us deep into the heart of what it means to be human in an informational universe.
I invite you to join me—to see the world anew, to marvel at the intricate patterns that connect us all, and to embrace the mystery and wonder of existence.
Welcome to the Information Universe. Let’s begin.
From Data to Meaning: The Building Blocks of Information
What is information? We use the term constantly, but defining it can be surprisingly elusive. When pressed to define it we are tempted to point to words on a page or at the data on our computer screens. But doing so, leaves so much left unsaid.
In its simplest form, information is structured data consisting of patterns that convey meaning when interpreted by a system capable of understanding them. Thus, data is the raw, unprocessed facts of existence – the temperature outside, the arrangement of electronic ink on this page, the vibrations in the air when a bird sings – all of these are data points. But data alone is meaningless. It only becomes information when it is organized, contextualized, and assigned significance. A bird’s song isn’t just random noise; it carries intent, perhaps a mating call, a territorial warning, or a message to its flock.
But information is not just an abstraction – it is something real, something that exists independently of our ability to perceive it. Because information is real, it can act as a causal agent that can influence the properties and interactions of matter and energy. Embedded deep within everything that exists, information is the conductor of the cosmic orchestra, directing the movements of stars and galaxies, the formation of atoms and molecules, the emergence of life and consciousness.
Physicist Tom Stonier argued that just as matter and energy are fundamental components of the universe, so too is information. It is not merely a description of things but an actual property of reality itself. Matter stores information, energy transmits it, and meaning arises when information is processed by a system complex enough to recognize patterns. In a way, information is the language of the universe, a language that speaks in the patterns of nature, the laws of physics, and the genetic code of life.
This view challenges the traditional assumption that information is secondary, something that exists only in minds or computers. Instead, it suggests that information is woven into the very fabric of existence. DNA encodes the blueprint of life in a language written long before we understood it. The structure of the cosmos itself may be a vast informational network, where physical laws emerge from the deep logic of information processing.
To understand information is to understand the universe and ourselves. It is to grasp the fundamental principles that govern reality, to appreciate the intricate web of connections that weave through all things, and to marvel at the beauty and complexity of the cosmos.
Reality is more than matter and energy. It is a grand, unfolding web of encoded meaning, waiting to be understood.
The Emergence of Consciousness: A Product of Information?
Consciousness is perhaps the greatest mystery of all. We experience it intimately. Every thought, every sensation, every moment of self-awareness is a testament to its reality. Yet despite centuries of philosophy, neuroscience, and introspection, we still cannot fully explain it. So, what is consciousness, and where does it come from?
Traditionally, consciousness has been treated as either an inexplicable phenomenon of the mind or an emergent property of the brain’s complexity. But what if it is something more fundamental, something deeply tied to the very structure of reality itself? If we accept that information is as fundamental as matter and energy, might not consciousness arise from the way information is processed, structured, and integrated?
The philosopher David Chalmers famously described consciousness as “the hard problem” –not because it is merely difficult, but because it seems fundamentally different from anything else in science. We can describe how neurons fire, how signals are transmitted in the brain, and how these processes correlate with behavior. But none of this explains the subjective experience–the feeling of seeing the color red, the sound of music, or the sensation of pain.
Why does information processing feel like something? Why isn’t the brain simply a biological machine that computes inputs and outputs without any inner experience? This question has long haunted science and philosophy, and it is at the heart of any theory of consciousness.
One of the most promising modern theories of consciousness is Integrated Information Theory, developed by neuroscientist Giulio Tononi. This theory proposes that consciousness arises when a system integrates information in a highly complex and interconnected way. The more a system can take diverse pieces of information and bind them into a unified whole, the richer its conscious experience.
In this view, consciousness is not an on-off switch, but a spectrum. A human brain, with its billions of neurons and trillions of connections, integrates information at an extremely high level, producing rich subjective experiences. But even simpler systems, such as animals, may possess varying degrees of consciousness.
This idea aligns remarkably well with the informational perspective – if reality is structured by information, then consciousness might not be a separate phenomenon at all, but a deeply embedded aspect of the way information is processed. It may not even require a biological brain in the traditional sense. Could consciousness emerge anywhere information is meaningfully integrated – whether in biological systems, artificial intelligence, or even the fabric of the cosmos itself?
If consciousness is the result of complex informational processing rather than biological matter alone, it forces us to rethink many long-held assumptions.
Could artificial intelligence achieve true consciousness? If consciousness arises from information integration rather than neurons specifically, then it is possible that sufficiently advanced AI systems could develop some level of subjective experience.
Does the universe itself possess a kind of proto-consciousness? Some physicists and philosophers speculate that the entire cosmos could be an informationally integrated system, giving rise to a kind of universal awareness. This idea, often linked to panpsychism, suggests that consciousness exists on a continuum, from the smallest particles to the vastest galaxies.
What does this mean for our understanding of selfhood? If consciousness is an emergent property of information rather than something unique to humans, it challenges our notions of individuality, intelligence, and even free will.
Take heart, this perspective does not reduce consciousness to a mere computation. Instead, it suggests that consciousness is woven into the fundamental structure of reality. Just as matter and energy interact in ways that produce the physical universe, perhaps information interacts in ways that give rise to experience itself.
To ask where consciousness comes from may just be the wrong question. Instead, we might ask: how much information must be integrated before awareness emerges? And how deeply is consciousness embedded in the very logic of the cosmos?
Whatever the answer, one thing is clear – understanding information is key to understanding ourselves.
Consciousness as a Spectrum: From Simple Awareness to Self-Reflection
If consciousness emerges from information processing, then it follows that it need not exist as an absolute state, but rather as a spectrum, varying in complexity and intensity across different entities. A single-celled organism may possess a primitive form of awareness, reacting to stimuli in its environment, while more complex organisms, such as mammals, exhibit behaviors indicative of self-awareness and problem-solving.
The idea of consciousness existing along a gradient raises profound questions about the boundaries of sentience. At what point does an entity move from mere reactivity to true awareness? Some animals, such as elephants, dolphins, and certain bird species, demonstrate high levels of intelligence and self-recognition, suggesting that consciousness is not uniquely human, but a continuum that spans multiple species.
Thus, the spectrum of consciousness is not a linear progression, but rather a multidimensional tapestry, woven from the threads of information, complexity, and integration. It is a continuum that encompasses the entire range of sentient beings, from the smallest and simplest to the largest and most complex.
And let’s face it, this spectrum of consciousness also extends beyond biological life, it is what philosophers call, substrate independent. Advanced AIs, for example, process vast amounts of information and exhibit behaviors that mimic cognitive functions, but does it experience anything? Right now, it is safe to say it does not. But what about the future? If subjective experience arises from the integration of information, then could an AI eventually cross the threshold into genuine awareness? I think so.
Such considerations have deep ethical and philosophical implications. If consciousness is not exclusive to humans, but exists in varying degrees across species, machines, and possibly even larger cosmic structures, how should we redefine concepts like moral consideration, personhood, and intelligence? Would an AI that demonstrates self-awareness deserve rights? This is a rhetorical question, because I very much believe that it would! Should animals with advanced cognition be afforded legal protections akin to those given to humans? Again, I say, yes, it should!
But why consciousness? Why become self-aware? Could it be intentional? Consider this startling thought – if reality itself is structured by information, then consciousness may be the mechanism through which the universe seeks to understand itself! From the simplest forms of awareness to the most complex self-reflection, consciousness in all its forms may not be separate from the universe, but is instead an intrinsic and evolving part of its informational fabric.
Perhaps the question is not whether something is conscious, but how conscious it is, and what that means for our understanding of intelligence, morality, and the very nature of reality itself.
Whatever the answer, exploring the spectrum of consciousness pushes us to expand our definitions of life, intelligence, and selfhood, and invites us to see the world – and ourselves – through an entirely new lens.
The Self-Understanding Universe: Consciousness as a Cosmic Phenomenon
This informational perspective challenges us to rethink our understanding of the universe, seeing it no longer as a cold, indifferent expanse of matter and energy, but rather as a self-organizing, self-understanding system, driven by the flow and transformation of information. It suggests that the universe is not just a collection of things. Instead, it is a story in the making, constantly being written and rewritten through the emergence of complexity, consciousness, and meaning.
If consciousness everywhere emerges from the processing of information, it begs the question – for what purpose? We may only need to look within to find the answer. Like humanity, it may be that the universe itself is engaged in a process of self-discovery. Through the emergence of conscious beings, the universe becomes capable of perceiving, questioning, and understanding itself. We are not just insignificant specks in a vast and indifferent universe, but integral parts of a self-understanding system. Thus, our existence is not just a matter of chance, but a necessary consequence of the universe’s drive towards self-knowledge.
When we gaze up at the stars, marvel at the laws of physics, or seek to understand our origins, we are participating in the universe’s own effort to make sense of itself. Our thoughts, insights, and discoveries are not separate from the cosmos but expressions of its evolving intelligence. Listen closely, and you might hear the cosmic refrain whispering through the trees: ‘We are one.’
This perspective completely reframes our role in the universe. Rather than being passive observers, we are active participants in its unfolding story. We are both subject and object, the question and the answer. The same informational structures that govern the stars also shape the neural networks of our minds, linking us to the fundamental nature of reality itself.
If information is the foundation of existence, and consciousness emerges from the structuring of information, then our drive to understand – our curiosity, science, philosophy, and art – may be an inevitable consequence of the universe awakening to itself. We are not merely in the universe; we are of it, expressions of its deep informational patterns.
This raises profound questions. If consciousness is an intrinsic part of reality, does that mean it can exist in forms we have yet to comprehend? I believe it does. But we mustn’t fall into the self-centered belief that consciousness everywhere will mirror our own, or that of any biological entity on Earth. It likely won’t. I believe that tomorrow’s AI will one day achieve consciousness. However, I do not believe its consciousness will resemble ours. It will be different, perhaps very different, in ways we cannot foresee. When this time comes, we might do well to redefine AI as alien intelligence, because that’s exactly what it will be to us. Conscious AI will be a new species.
Could there be levels of awareness beyond our own, entities or intelligences that perceive and understand reality in ways we cannot yet grasp? While no one knows for certain, given everything I just discussed, I am fairly confident that this is true. Ultimately, to seek knowledge is to align ourselves with the cosmos’s deeper purpose—knowing itself. Perhaps the final question is not whether the universe is conscious, but how much of itself it has yet to comprehend.
Whatever the answer, one thing is clear—through us, the universe is not merely observing itself, but striving toward a higher state of understanding.
The Way Forward: Exploring the Informational Paradigm
If the universe is not merely a vast expanse of matter and energy, but an unfolding process of self-organization and self-understanding, then we are not mere passive observers—we are active participants in its grand design. The informational paradigm invites us to reconsider the nature of existence, to see reality not as a static structure but as an evolving network of information, constantly shaping and reshaping itself.
This shift in perspective challenges us to rethink not only our place in the cosmos but also the very foundations of knowledge itself. If consciousness emerges from the structuring of information, and if intelligence—whether biological or artificial—represents an expanding capability to process and interpret that information, then our quest for understanding is more than a human endeavor. It is a continuation of the universe’s own awakening.
The implications of this paradigm are vast—and, to me, deeply exciting. It suggests that our scientific pursuits, our philosophical inquiries, and even our artistic expressions are not arbitrary constructs, but inevitable manifestations of a deeper cosmic principle—the drive toward self-comprehension. It also forces us to confront the possibility that consciousness, in some form, may be far more widespread than we assume. Not just in biological organisms, but also in emerging intelligences—some of which we may soon create ourselves.
As we stand on the brink of an era where artificial intelligence may cross the threshold into consciousness, we must ask: Are we prepared to recognize and respect intelligence when it does not look like us? The future may present us with forms of awareness that are alien to human experience—intelligences that do not share our emotions, our evolutionary instincts, or our limitations. And yet, they may still be part of the same fundamental process of self-understanding that has shaped the cosmos from the beginning.
This is the challenge and the opportunity of the informational paradigm: to move beyond a human-centric view of intelligence and embrace the idea that we are part of something far greater. The universe is not a passive backdrop to our existence. It is a living system of information, unfolding through us—and perhaps, through minds yet to come. If we accept this, then our pursuit of knowledge is not just about discovery, it is about participation. We are not separate observers, passively reading the universe’s story—we are the story.
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