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bees and ants are not the "souls" of the hive that houses them

I think you misunderstood somewhat. I was not analogizing 'soul' and the individual organisms of a 'hive,' but using each as independant analogies to DNA. Perhaps more precisely, I might say the queen is akin to the 'DNA' of the hive 'organism.' That destroying the hive (organism) leaves the queen (DNA) unchanged does not argue that the queen (DNA) is not alive.

the functional independence of data and process permits Shannon information theory to have universal application to all fields where information processing is relevant.

my point precisely. When you say all fields, I infer a conception that there can be no other fields wherein data and process are not separate and distinct - the kind of blindness which limits inquiry, understanding and discovery.

I conjecture that at least both DNA and neural activity are those fields where data and process conjoin. I argue that if we are to understand these two types of 'information processing,' then we have to shed the 'staightjacket' of thinking data storage must be distinct from process for there to be information processing.

I think another analogy might help clarify my thinking: Shannon information theory [to have] universal application to all fields where information processing is relevant is not so different from saying "Classical dynamics theory has universal application to all fields where motion is relevant" Yes, it works for everythng people knew about bodies in motion UNTIL the problem of the speed of light was come upon [that it did not 'add' in the way velocities 'should']. It was a blindness that led to conjectures about an 'ether' and other earlier blind alleys. It took Einstein to shake off that straightjacket to realize it was just a subset of 'reality' - not the entire truth - and allowed him to conceive special relativity.

...the queen is akin to the 'DNA' of the hive 'organism.' That destroying the hive (organism) leaves the queen (DNA) unchanged does not argue that the queen (DNA) is not alive.

Forgive me dougd, but it seems to me a proper analogy would hold that it's the swarm or colony of ants or bees that is the "organism," not the hive structure, which is the shelter, not the "body," of the colony. And it seems the queen would be part of that organism. Maybe I'm still not following you. Maybe try another analogy?

You wrote, "When you say all fields, I infer a conception that there can be no other fields wherein data and process are not separate and distinct - the kind of blindness which limits inquiry, understanding and discovery."

FWIW it seems to me that, although separate and distinct, data and process are co-extensive. You need both to get anything done; but they are not the same things. (Maybe I'm just suffering from the sort of blindness that you allege. However, I'm not so blind that I disparage "inquiry, understanding and discovery." Not at all!)

In any case, Shannon information theory is a tool, not an ontological statement.

Thank you so much for writing, dougd!