We Are Mystified by Eric Holloway

[EricMH (Eric Michael Holloway)]

@dga471

Eric, I know that you’re not that interested in this particular argument anymore, but I am indeed mystified, why do you think that the mere presence of mutual information alone is an indication of ID? It seems to me that you are saying, every time an organization reproduces and passes on its DNA, that is an instance of ID (because that produces mutual information between the parent and child, or between two children). Can you explain this to someone not trained in information theory like me?

To me, it seems that you’re saying reproduction can only be explained by ID. Even if I don’t know anything about evolution, it is difficult for me to see how reproduction is any different from the many other natural processes we encounter in our daily lives. Perhaps there’s some subtler layer of the argument that I’m missing here.

This was @swamidass’ argument that natural processes could produce functional information. I point out the math shows the FI is dependent on pre-existing MI, so the argument doesn’t follow.

But while I was not arguing in my other threads that physical duplication is mutual information and indicates intelligent design, yes, it does appear even duplication requires some kind of intelligent design. At least that seems to be the logical conclusion of my mutual information argument.