[grey_whiskers]

The machine and the algorithm and the data are not distinct things in the theoretical abstract. Humans create the distinction as an engineering convenience based on how we fabricate computers in practice.

Low pressure in space aside, haven't you noticed how...well, material the universe tends to be?

In other words, if biochemicals are computing machines, then you might want to treat the possibility that for that case too, as well as for silicon, the machine, the algorithm, and the data are distinct things as well.

Cheers!

[tortoise]

In other words, if biochemicals are computing machines, then you might want to treat the possibility that for that case too, as well as for silicon, the machine, the algorithm, and the data are distinct things as well.

Any distinction we make between machine, program, and data is an illusion that serves us reasonably well if we do not look to closely. Much like Newtonian physics. If we are being strictly correct, there is no distinction between any of those terms. And like Newtonian physics, the more precision and correctness we require, the more the illusion fails us.

I have no problem separating machine from program from data when it is convenient, but I am well aware of the fact that the distinction is an artificial construct that works reasonably well in some cases and fails very badly in others. A man has got to know the limits of his models.