# Information, Physics, Quantum **Domain:** Physics / Information **Doc Type:** Paper Node **Maturity:** Evolving **Related:** [[John Archibald Wheeler]], [[It from Bit]], [[Quantum Foundations]] --- ## Definition “Information, Physics, Quantum: The Search for Links” is John Archibald Wheeler's 1989 essay developing observer-participancy and the phrase “it from bit.” ## Corpus Context The work gives [[articles/Beyond the Sea|Beyond the Sea]] a primary-source anchor for informational ontology. It should be read alongside, not collapsed into, the later [[Simulation Hypothesis]]. ## Key Insight **This node connects its historical or conceptual subject to the corpus without treating analogy as proof of direct influence.** ## Relationships - **Classical information foundation:** [[wiki/A Mathematical Theory of Communication|A Mathematical Theory of Communication]] defines the classical channel, entropy, coding, and error-correction problems from which quantum information theory generalizes. - **Biological boundary:** [[wiki/Biological Cybernetics|Biological Cybernetics]] uses information measures in living systems without establishing that cognition or consciousness requires quantum computation. - **Interpretive boundary:** [[wiki/Quantum Foundations|Quantum Foundations]] separates the predictive formalism from stronger ontological claims. ## See Also [[John Archibald Wheeler]], [[It from Bit]], [[Quantum Foundations]], [[wiki/A Mathematical Theory of Communication|A Mathematical Theory of Communication]], [[wiki/Biological Cybernetics|Biological Cybernetics]] ## Sources / Provenance - [[articles/Beyond the Sea|Beyond the Sea]] - John Archibald Wheeler, [“Information, Physics, Quantum: The Search for Links”](https://philpapers.org/archive/WHEIPQ.pdf). ## Simple Reminders, Quotations, and Thoughts > “Today, we are busy developing quantum communication over large distances. Using quantum communication links, one will connect future quantum computers which work in a completely new complexity class compared to existing computers. To the best of my knowledge, this is the first time that humanity develops a technology which has no parallel at all in the known Universe. There are no quantum computers out there, assuming that the functioning of the brain can, in the end, be explained by non-quantum processes.” > **— Anton Zeilinger**, *2010, Edge Annual Question, “HOW IS THE INTERNET CHANGING THE WAY YOU THINK?”* [[reminders/Information/Quantum Communication Has No Parallel in the Known Universe by Anton Zeilinger|Quantum Communication Has No Parallel in the Known Universe by Anton Zeilinger]] > “Human society, living organisms, and the planets, stars, and galaxies that make up the universe all function by the orderly exchange of information. Social cues, metabolic signals, and bits of information carried by the force of gravity give rise to societies, organisms, and to the structure of the universe. Chaos, by contrast, is defined by the explosive growth and spread of random information. Memes used to be cultural practices that propagated because they benefited humanity. Accelerating flows of digital information have reduced memes to kitten photos on the Internet. When memes propagate so rapidly they lose their meaning, watch out!” > **— Seth Lloyd**, *2017, Edge Annual Question, “WHAT SCIENTIFIC TERM OR CONCEPT OUGHT TO BE MORE WIDELY KNOWN?”* [[reminders/Information/Information Exchange Organizes Societies Organisms and Galaxies by Seth Lloyd|Information Exchange Organizes Societies Organisms and Galaxies by Seth Lloyd]]