[allmendream]

Can you define information for me such that only living things can carry it and death is the absence of it?

Ever see Godfather? A dead horse’s head definitely conveyed information! ;)

My definition has nothing to do with what life looks like, it defines what actions are necessary and sufficient to describe something as alive.

Do you think anything in biology that has purpose is a doorway to finding the ULTIMATE purpose?

DNA polymerase is the enzyme responsible for the “replication” part of the definition. The function of DNA polymerase is to replicate DNA. The “purpose” of DNA polymerase is to perform that function.

[Alamo-Girl]

Can you define information for me such that only living things can carry it and death is the absence of it?

Certainly, it is the Shannon definition of information (successful communication): the reduction of uncertainty (Shannon entropy) in the receiver (or molecular machine) as it goes from a before state to an after state.

Non-living (rocks, etc.) and dead things in nature do not successfully communicate. Living things do.

Ever see Godfather? A dead horse’s head definitely conveyed information! ;)

The dead horse head was the "message" the sender (bad guy) sent to the receiver (bad guy.) The receiver's uncertainty was reduced when he decoded that message.

The horse as an autonomous living thing was no longer successfully communicating, the horse was dead. However, some bacteria, fleas etc. may still have been successfully communicating autonomously inside or on the dead horse's head.

Indeed, along the way to death of the horse, some molecular machinery may have been alive while others were dead.

That is another neat thing about the Shannon model - it is completely transportable because it is mathematics. It doesn't matter if you are talking about molecular machinery, bacteria, bacterial spores, colonies of army ants, the biosphere, artificial intelligence, computing, postal service, radio, tv etc.

Autonomy and broadcast are built into the model.

My definition has nothing to do with what life looks like, it defines what actions are necessary and sufficient to describe something as alive.

Biologically, on earth - but it doesn't help identifying non-biological life forms here or in or beyond the cosmos.

Do you think anything in biology that has purpose is a doorway to finding the ULTIMATE purpose?

I wouldn't call it a doorway but a notice.

The unreasonable effectiveness of mathematics (Wigner) is like God's copyright notice on the cosmos.

The existence of purpose in nature can also be seen that way.

So can the existence of information (successful communication.)

Jesus' Name is Logos and I AM. And He spoke everything into being. And He speaks to us now.

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. [There is] no speech nor language, [where] their voice is not heard. – Psalms 19:1-3

To God be the glory!