Why Information Grows

What is information, and why does it matter? Understanding its essence unravels the story of life, technology, and the progress of human civilization.

1. The Physical Nature of Information

We often think of information as intangible—data floating in the digital ethers or abstract concepts in our minds. However, the book explains that information is inherently physical, bound to the arrangement of particles and atoms within matter. This understanding ties information to the material world, not as some ethereal entity but as configurations with physical consequences.

DNA is a perfect example: it’s a chain of atoms arranged in a highly specific order that carries the instructions for building living organisms. Similarly, computer hard drives and even written languages represent ordered systems of particles designed to store and convey information. Information exists in any physical medium where atoms are deliberately organized.

Crucially, the significance we attach to this physical information depends on our ability to interpret it through context. For instance, the written word is simply ink on paper or pixels on a screen until we attribute meaning based on shared alphabets and vocabulary. This connection between physical order and human interpretation defines information's utility.

Examples

• DNA as the fundamental blueprint of life
• Letters on a keyboard forming intelligible words
• Information stored magnetically on a computer hard drive

2. Order vs. Disorder in the Universe

In the grand scheme of existence, the universe tends toward randomness and chaos, a concept formalized as entropy. Order, or the deliberate arrangement of atoms into meaningful structures, is comparatively rare and fleeting. Creating order requires energy and purpose, making it difficult to sustain.

Consider a Bugatti sports car. Its configuration is a rare example of order: countless atoms meticulously arranged into a functioning vehicle. Damage, like a dent or shattered windshield, disrupts this order, and the car begins its descent toward disorder. As a stark contrast, there are trillions of ways for the car to be disassembled or wrecked compared to the one orderly way it was manufactured.

This concept underscores why information (order) requires effort to maintain. Left alone, items like trees, buildings, or even living creatures naturally degrade over time, succumbing to the universe’s default state of entropy.

Examples

• A Rubik’s cube with one solved state but countless disordered configurations
• Cigarette smoke dissipating into the air, losing its structured form
• Boltzmann’s theories linking entropy and the universe’s tendency toward chaos

3. Earth’s Unique Role as an Information Hub

Planet Earth stands out in the cosmos due to its capacity not just to host physical information but to grow and expand it. Unlike other planets in the solar system, Earth sustains conditions that preserve and develop information, making it a hotbed for innovation and structure.

Mild temperatures on Earth allow solid matter to exist, which is critical because solids, like bodies, houses, or even computer chips, shield information from entropy. Cellular structures in living beings protect DNA to ensure its survival and replication. Without this protection, the order within DNA would break down, leading to disorder.

This abundance of solid matter also enables information to grow dynamically. Trees, as a metaphor, can compute sun and water availability to regulate their growth. Computers, engineered from solid materials, perform similar computational feats, replicating the way biology organizes information.

Examples

• Earth’s mild climate allowing the emergence of biological and technological structures
• Trees reacting to seasons to manage their growth cycles
• Human technology evolving due to Earth’s solid resources like metals and minerals

4. Humans as Architects of Information

What separates humanity from other living beings is our unparalleled ability to take raw materials and transform them into tools, machines, and structures. In this process, humans "crystallize" information, applying knowledge to rearrange atoms into new forms.

Unlike our ancestors, we now create sophisticated products like airplanes or smartphones—a far cry from simple rock tools. These tools embody layers of accumulated information passed down and expanded upon through generations. For example, the creation of computer chips required groundbreaking discoveries in physics, engineering, and chemistry.

Moreover, this ability to crystallize knowledge allows humans to store and pass on data in ways no other species can achieve. A single product can embody centuries of exploration, trial, and innovation, reshaping what humanity knows and can accomplish.

Examples

• Smartphones combining centuries of communication innovations
• The evolution from flint tools to complex machinery
• Skyscrapers reflecting advancements in structural engineering

5. Individual Limitations in Knowledge

No single human being can know everything. Our cognitive capacities have finite limits, meaning that overwhelming ourselves with information diminishes the effectiveness of what we retain and understand. As individuals, we can only hold so much knowledge, making collaboration essential.

Think of knowledge in society as a giant computer, with each individual serving as a single computational unit or "personbyte." No one personbyte contains all the necessary data to perform complicated tasks like designing an airplane. Instead, society functions by connecting personbytes into a larger network.

This collective approach to learning fosters innovation and social progress. By dividing responsibilities and knowledge into smaller, manageable pieces, societies and economies grow. The interconnected efforts of many minds build on one another to create achievements impossible for any single individual.

Examples

• Assembly lines dividing knowledge and labor for mass production
• Tech companies employing specialized teams for software and hardware design
• Researchers sharing scientific discoveries through journals and conferences

6. The Importance of Networking

Strong networks pave the way for sharing and growing collective knowledge. Networks link people, ideas, and resources, enabling the development of complex systems and technologies. In the modern world, connections and communication are vital to everything from global trade to technological advancement.

Global languages like English or Mandarin facilitate the creation of international networks, allowing knowledge to transcend regional barriers. Countries and communities that build robust networks have greater access to resources and opportunities, multiplying their collective output.

But building effective networks isn't just about technology—cultural factors play a huge role too. Societies that prioritize trust outside family structures often create larger, more integrated webs of collaboration. This sense of community fuels innovation by encouraging the exchange of information between distant individuals and hubs.

Examples

• The rise of globalized trade through shared economic systems
• Scientific communities collaborating internationally
• Trust-based companies like Google pooling global talent

7. Why Rich Countries Keep Getting Richer

Wealthier nations maintain dominance because they’ve already built robust networks conducive to growth. Their established infrastructure, global connections, and extensive resources keep attracting talent and additional knowledge.

Take Silicon Valley: its immense wealth of resources and information continues to attract engineers, companies, and inventors from around the world. This influx perpetuates innovation and growth while leaving poorer regions at a disadvantage due to less-developed networks.

In contrast, societies with weak information networks, limited access to global systems, or cultural values stifling collaboration struggle to move forward. Without constant exposure to new ideas and talent, breaking free from poverty and stagnation becomes nearly impossible.

Examples

• The United States exporting advanced technology globally
• Western Europe’s universities fostering international collaboration
• Poorer countries unable to match the resources and networks of wealthier nations

8. The Role of Technology in Modern Networking

Recent technological advances have revolutionized how easily and effectively people can connect. Tools like the internet enable previously isolated individuals or communities to access information and participate in broader knowledge-sharing networks.

Unlike centuries ago, where travel and communication barriers limited interaction, today's digital tools condense knowledge into a global pool. One can learn from an online course in China, read a research paper from Germany, or join a discussion forum about innovation—all from the comfort of their home.

As technology continues to scale, societies will need to ensure inclusive access to ensure global participation in this shared growth. Otherwise, the gap between connected and under-connected societies may continue to widen.

Examples

• Internet access democratizing education and creativity
• Smartphones enabling worldwide communication
• Cloud-based tools centralizing global efforts in science and industry

9. A Constant Battle Against Entropy

The struggle to retain, grow, and organize information is ongoing. Whether preserving ecosystems, building technologies, or improving societies, maintaining order requires relentless energy and resources.

Governments, educational institutions, and companies all invest heavily in data-gathering systems as entropy threatens to undermine existing structures. Without dedicated effort, progress could halt or even collapse.

This constant battle invigorates humanity's pursuit of knowledge, reminding us that survival and advancement rely on our continued ingenuity in organizing the physical and conceptual world.

Examples

• Investment in renewable energy to replace depleting resources
• Cultural preservation programs aimed at saving historical artifacts
• Advances in healthcare fighting disease and degeneration

Takeaways

1. Focus on building and contributing to networks that amplify shared knowledge and resources to better foster creativity and progress.
2. Embrace a collaborative approach to learning and invention, recognizing that team efforts will always outpace individual efforts.
3. Invest in understanding how disorder impacts success, and work to preserve and grow ordered systems in personal and professional environments.