Is life a form of computation?

(thereader.mitpress.mit.edu)

222 points redeemed | 1 comments | 23 Sep 25 20:46 UTC | HN request time: 0.215s | source

Show context

karmakurtisaani ◴[23 Sep 25 21:37 UTC] No.45353075[source]▶

I don't see the point of asking this question. Like, sure, all physical systems follow certain rules, so any such process will develop in a way that it look like a computation of an algorithm. Also, evolution itself is constantly optimizing organisms to best adapt to their environment, just like a computation.

So asking if life is a computation seems mostly like a semantic musing. Define "life" and define "computation", then see if they're the same.

replies(3): >>45353368 #>>45353391 #>>45353833 #

measurablefunc ◴[23 Sep 25 22:06 UTC] No.45353368[source]▶

>>45353075 #

Evolution is not optimizing anything. What's happening in the biosphere is a process of mutation & selection, it's not optimization towards any particular goal or objective. Furthermore & slightly more abstractly, b/c of conservation of mass & energy, what's actually happening is re-organization of existing biomass into different life forms enabled by solar radiation.

replies(5): >>45353425 #>>45353871 #>>45353932 #>>45356589 #>>45356939 #

1. random3 ◴[24 Sep 25 06:23 UTC] No.45356939[source]▶

>>45353368 #

That's a rather strong statement, but incorrect in both result and formulation.

How is mutation and selection entail it's not optimization? Your motivating the lack of a goal for a process by describing it's composition. It seems like a logical (Non sequitur fallacy) and categorical erorr.

For reference

> optimization = the selection of a best element, with regard to some criteria, from some set of available alternatives

What's the selection selecting from, what's evolution evolving towards?

Moreover, you motivate with conservation. Conservation is an optimization criterion.

↑