The Philosophical Implications of the Cell Language Theory 429“6x9” b2861 The Cell Language Theory: Connecting Mind and MatterIf we define the physicochemical systems implementing practopoiesis
as “practopoiesis-executing agent” or “practopoietons” for brevity,
anapoiesis would be an essential component process performed by prac-
topoietons. Practopoietons would in turn be “isomorphic” with creatons
as defined in the cell language theory [19–23].10.12 A Theory of the Origin of Information Based on
Peircean Metaphysics
In Section 4.9, we discussed the possible physical mechanisms of the ori-
gins of biological information and life. In this section, the broader prob-
lem of the origin of information in general (including biological and
nonbiological information) is discussed, based on Peirce’s triadic meta-
physics (Section 6.3.2). As is evident in the following quotations, Peirce
made a clear distinction between possibility, Firstness, and actuality,
Secondness:Possibility implies a relation to what exists. [408] (10.28)A possibility remains possible when it is not actual. [409] (10.29)Possibility evolves the actuality. [410] (10.30)In order to represent to our minds the relation between the universe of
possibilities and the universe of actual existent facts, if we are going to
think of the latter as a surface, we must think of the former as three-
dimensional space in which any surface would represent all the facts
that might exist in one existential universe. [411] (10.31)Feibleman [99] succinctly summarized the essence of Peirce’s distinc-
tion between possibility and actuality thus:Not all possibles can exist: actuality is a selection of them. (10.32)When I read Statement (10.32), especially the term “selection”, it
occurred to me that Peirce’s metaphysics might provide a philosophical
foundation for the origin of information in this Universe, since information
can be broadly defined as resulting from the selection of a set of objects,b2861_Ch-10.indd 429 17-10-2017 12:13:41 PM