Emergent biological principles and the computational properties of the universe

TL;DR

This paper argues that the universe's information processing limits support the view that life is an emergent phenomenon with novel properties, resolving conflicts with microscopic causal closure.

Contribution

It introduces a cosmological theory-based threshold for complexity, supporting the emergence of life as a natural phenomenon.

Findings

Threshold for complexity is comparable to small proteins.

Supports the view that life emerges from universal principles.

Reconciles emergent properties with microscopic causality.

Abstract

The claim that life is an emergent phenomenon exhibiting novel properties and principles is often criticized for being in conflict with causal closure at the microscopic level. I argue that advances in cosmological theory suggesting an upper bound on the information processing capacity of the universe may resolve this conflict for systems exceeding a certain threshold of complexity. A numerical estimate of the threshold places it at the level of a small protein. The calculation supports the contention that life is an emergent phenomenon.