Proof Statements

Proof Statements

The purpose of this site is to expound this engineer’s study and thinking about what life is from a physics/engineering point of view, and the implications of these thoughts.  The result has some interesting twists so this story will start with the end – the conclusions, then work through the details and thought process. It starts with a proof, actually several logical proofs in one, of some of the principles that result from the line of thinking presented here.

The end point is very simple.  Dead matter/energy is in the realm of science (follows the laws of physics) and live matter/energy is in the realms of philosophy (has embedded functional logical capability) AND science (follows the laws of physics).

This proof is based on the following being true:

1. Life is a process,
2. A process requires intelligent work, which can only be accomplished with machines,
3. Intelligent work and machines require logical functionality,
4. Natural causes cannot perform logical functions.

It is the view of this engineer that these statements are true and provable.  This raises the argument for ID to a new, much higher level because natural causes can produce a molecule with a tremendous amount of information, but natural causes cannot perform a single logical function.¹  Information is a static entity.  A process is an activity, as is life, and a far, far greater challenge to create.  In human terms, it would be the difference between a bird building a nest vs. a human designing and building a working automobile.  It seems to this engineer that this argument needs to be validated by others, and if valid, promulgated.

This argument explains why we are finding life to be so extraordinarily complex:  it takes an incredibility complex process control system to maintain itself in an off-equilibrium state.  This realization cements the idea that logic/intelligence/philosophy is a separate realm from science/physics.  Life is a process with one foot in the realm of science and the other foot in the realm of philosophy.

This engineer suggests that this connection possibly should be designated as a new realm called Actualization.²  Life in a cell, as we know it, from a functional, engineering point of view, can be described as a process control system that holds matter in a specified, off-equilibrium state such that it (life) can exist.  Actualization of life is a process that involves not only the intelligence to design such a system, but the mechanical ability to build it and make it functional.  Natural causes cannot actualize structures that require intelligent work, like houses, automobiles and life; natural causes can actualize a static or dynamic natural equilibrium in matter/energy/space/time, things like atoms, molecules, suns, solar systems and galaxies.

Here is a formal proof of the inability of Natural Causes to create any machine:

1. Work is defined as a force extended over a distance; 1 joule (work) is the force of one Newton over the distance of one meter.
2. Logical work is conditional.  The simplest form would be two states:  e.g., Condition A, do work X, Condition B, do work Y.
3. These conditions, to be performed, must have a directive; a logic based, signal that exists as one of two states at some point in the system as well as a logically determined output to command intelligent work to accomplish the directed need.
4. The second law of thermodynamics is the observation that matter and energy always seek equilibrium; the point of least potential energy –  the most stable and probable state.
5. Equilibrium is a deterministic state governed by the laws of physics, not logical information and therefore cannot carry logical input or output signals, or perform any logic function.
6. Therefore physics alone cannot create logic.
7. Therefore logic is a separate realm from physics.
8. Therefore, natural causes have no ability to logically select courses of action, therefore cannot to do logically specified (intelligent) work.
9. Machines have arrangements of matter and energy whereby energy is expended to hold signals in a state off of equilibrium as needed to implement their logically directed functionality.
10. Therefore machines can perform intelligent work.
11. It has been observed that proteins in living cells are in a state away from equilibrium, and become dysfunctional when they fall to equilibrium.
12. In order to sustain the life of the cell, the dysfunctional protein must be replaced or repaired.  This action must be the result of a logical decision based on circumstances, and therefore is intelligent work.
13. Therefore, natural causes could not have created at least some of the protein molecules required for our life.
14. Therefore, physics alone cannot have an explanation for life.
15. Life has embedded machinery that holds its matter away from equilibrium disallowing natural causes to dictate outcome.
16. Therefore, determinism, the doctrine that all events are ultimately determined by causes external to the will, are wrong.  Free Will reigns over physics.

Logic and intelligence are not in the realm of physics.  Machines performing functions (processes) joins these two realms because they obey the laws of physics and perform logical functions.  Machines are able to perform logical functions because they have embedded matter/energy in a state of non-equilibrium.  A process must be able to monitor existing conditions, use logic to determine action required to perform the required task(s) to achieve the desired outcome and to command actuators to the work  This requires continual consumption of energy to power the logical processing in addition to the intelligent work being performed.  This distinction is a difference between matter/energy reacting to natural causes (use only available free energy) vs. matter/energy performing intelligent work (require on-going energy consumption to perform the logical functionality required).

The argument that Intelligent Design should not be taught as a possible explanation for beginning life in schools because it is not science is correct in one sense: Intelligent Design is not 100% science, it is part logic which is in the realm of philosophy.  But this begs the question of the fact that life is a merger of physics and logic, or philosophy.  The proper understanding of life requires the study of this merger which invokes intelligence, in the opinion of this engineer.  Any proof related to natural causes and life must invoke the necessity of logic functionality in the life process.   Philosophy, the realm which intelligence and logic reside, is a realm not governed by physics, rather it is governed by intelligence. 

It is the opinion of this engineer that even if the term “intelligent design” is not used in education, the concept that physics and logic are two realms and that physics alone cannot produce life should be taught.³.

The rest of this page will summarize the conclusions and provide supporting information by posts and other referenced information. Diagrams are used to tie the concepts being discussed together.  Thinking of life as a process invokes the need for some new terminology.  In addition, more specificity of some existing definitions is needed.  For this reason, some posts are devoted to definitions.

An attempt is made to make the concepts involved understandable to anyone by using analogies that one can relate to the macro world we all are familiar with that apply to the micro world as well.