A web site explaining the application of Information Theory
to biology, by biologist Tom
Schneider of the Molecular Information Theory Group at the
National Institutes of Health
An article by information scientist and creationist Werner
Gitt, author of "In the Beginning was Information", arguing
that information in living systems must have been created by
Jesus Christ.
An article by biophysicist, information theorist and
creationist Lee M. Spetner, author of "Not by Chance",
criticizing the Talk Origins FAQ by Dr. Max
An article by mathemetician and philosopher William Dembski,
author of several books on Intelligent Design.
ecently Creationists, and
particularly Intelligent Design advocates, have taken to arguing
that information in the genome is evidence for special creation
by an intelligent designer (generally assumed to be God), and
against evolution. A common Creationist tactic is to ask: "do
evolutionists have any examples of mutations or evolutionary
processes which have led to an increase in genetic information?"
But do they really know what they are talking about?
It is easy to make false, scientific-sounding claims when
discussing complex ideas such as Information Theory. Readers
should be suspicious of any writing on the subject that:
Claims to provide a measure for meaning;
Claims to be based on both Classical (Shannon) and
Algorithmic (Chaitin-Kolmogorov) Information Theory (or
neither);
Claims to distinguish between random and non-random
data;
Proposes new theorems, principles, or laws without thoroughly
demonstrating their validity;
Infers causality from correlation;
Makes unsubstantiated claims about the probability of an
event; or
Otherwise lacks mathematical rigor.
This series of articles provides a brief
overview of Classical Information
Theory, Algorithmic Information
Theory, and current Creationist arguments about information
theory by Gitt, Spetner, and Dembski. Problems with the various Creationist
arguments are explained. The complete mathematical background for
Classical and Algorithmic Information Theory is not provided
here; it is quite detailed and on-line references are provided
for those who want to read more.
ecently Creationists, and
particularly Intelligent Design advocates, have taken to arguing
that information in the genome is evidence for special creation
by an intelligent designer (generally assumed to be God), and
against evolution. A common Creationist tactic is to ask: "do
evolutionists have any examples of mutations or evolutionary
processes which have led to an increase in genetic information?"
But do they really know what they are talking about?
