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8 The Universe Observed and Unobserved
and velocity. It continues to be a particle as long as it remains “in sight”. In
Heisenberg’s words, the unobserved particle is “potential”, and it becomes
“actual” when observed.
As explained above, a definite, or specific, object comes to exist when an
observer provides its location and outlines, and in this manner the object is
made to stand out of the background in which it is embedded. In other words,
the observing mind provides the information which sets a particular object
or event apart, thereby individuating it. In order for specifics to exist in the
universe, they must be delineated and set apart, and this involves the creation
of information by an observer. This simple fact reveals that information is an
essential aspect of existence.
To generate the information needed to locate a particular object in a busy
background requires computational power. For example, to locate a letter
T in a field of letters tilted at various angles requires a definite amount
of computational search. Computation can be quantified, and it is possible
to determine the exact amount of computation needed to extract specific
information. An observer is never a passive entity, but uses computational
power in order to produce the information it needs, for example by carrying
out a search of the visual field.
If an observer does the computational work necessary to precisely carve an
object out of the background, the observer must have a purpose in undertaking
this task. The purpose determines the specific boundaries along which the
observer will cut to extract it. The more complex the object is, the more
specific the observer’s purpose must be, and the more computational power is
devoted to the task.
In the philosophy of science, a person or thing that carries out actions is
called an agent. If an agent acts in order to accomplish specific results—that
is, if the agent has specific goals—it is said to have intentionality. Objects have
intentionality if they’re designed to carry out a specific task: For example, a
hammer is an intentional object, but it has what is called derived intentionality:
The intentionality of the hammer is derived from that of the carpenter, and it
is he who has original intentionality. What has been stated above is that in order
for an observer to allocate computational resources to the task of extracting a
particular object from a background, the observer must be an intentional agent:
The agent must have its own agenda, its own set of specific goals. This shows
that every definite object in the universe is the product of a living observer
possessing intentionality. This may be summarized as follows:
A specific complex object exists only if there also exists information sufficient
to determine its location and boundaries. If this information does not exist,
then it is impossible to point to, or designate a particular object. The object, in
8 The Universe Observed and Unobserved
and velocity. It continues to be a particle as long as it remains “in sight”. In
Heisenberg’s words, the unobserved particle is “potential”, and it becomes
“actual” when observed.
As explained above, a definite, or specific, object comes to exist when an
observer provides its location and outlines, and in this manner the object is
made to stand out of the background in which it is embedded. In other words,
the observing mind provides the information which sets a particular object
or event apart, thereby individuating it. In order for specifics to exist in the
universe, they must be delineated and set apart, and this involves the creation
of information by an observer. This simple fact reveals that information is an
essential aspect of existence.
To generate the information needed to locate a particular object in a busy
background requires computational power. For example, to locate a letter
T in a field of letters tilted at various angles requires a definite amount
of computational search. Computation can be quantified, and it is possible
to determine the exact amount of computation needed to extract specific
information. An observer is never a passive entity, but uses computational
power in order to produce the information it needs, for example by carrying
out a search of the visual field.
If an observer does the computational work necessary to precisely carve an
object out of the background, the observer must have a purpose in undertaking
this task. The purpose determines the specific boundaries along which the
observer will cut to extract it. The more complex the object is, the more
specific the observer’s purpose must be, and the more computational power is
devoted to the task.
In the philosophy of science, a person or thing that carries out actions is
called an agent. If an agent acts in order to accomplish specific results—that
is, if the agent has specific goals—it is said to have intentionality. Objects have
intentionality if they’re designed to carry out a specific task: For example, a
hammer is an intentional object, but it has what is called derived intentionality:
The intentionality of the hammer is derived from that of the carpenter, and it
is he who has original intentionality. What has been stated above is that in order
for an observer to allocate computational resources to the task of extracting a
particular object from a background, the observer must be an intentional agent:
The agent must have its own agenda, its own set of specific goals. This shows
that every definite object in the universe is the product of a living observer
possessing intentionality. This may be summarized as follows:
A specific complex object exists only if there also exists information sufficient
to determine its location and boundaries. If this information does not exist,
then it is impossible to point to, or designate a particular object. The object, in