nature as analogy

[John <***>]

Hi,

I'm drafting a paper for a conference and I want to say something about 
the way information is used in nature without getting too into it, since 
the paper is ultimately about information system design.

Here's a paragraph I wrote. What I would like to know from my esteemed 
colleagues, is if the statements here are supported well enough in the 
literature for me to just say this and move on, or am I being wierd 
again by suggesting that nature operates on mimicry and analogy??? If 
someone would like to contribute a seminal reference I would appreciate 
it. I'm not sure RR addresses this directly in his mimicry paper - its 
been a while since I read that, but I'm betting it should be referenced.

Title: Information as Communication

The human body functions on the transfer of information between critical 
components. It does this seamlessly and efficiently. Information storage 
is a part of its use and all indications are that natural biological 
information is relational and analogical, not quantitative or 
analytical. This can be imagined in an example of a runner. On reaching 
a ravine the runner quickly leaps across and lands accurately on the 
other bank, continuing to run without missing a stride. If asked later 
to look at the ravine and estimate its width, he may guess within a foot 
or two. Clearly, a much more accurate process was available to the 
runner naturally in the moment of need. It seems unlikely that a more 
accurate quantitative capability would exist out of reach of the 
conscious mind. It is more likely that the actions are determined 
mimetically, by analogy to past experience, and that this is a faster 
and more accurate process for anticipation in complex systems.


Thanks for your comments,
John Kineman