Abstract
The question may be more subtle than "It from Bit, or Bit from It?" as determining whether information creates form or form creates information is sometimes a matter of knowing which entity is playing which role, or seeing what part a given component of reality is playing at any moment. Indeed; a single entity can play the role of "It" with respect to what came before, and "Bit" with respect to what comes after, or the reverse. Determining unambiguously whether a system is creating information or is created by information is thus virtually impossible - as the two modes are so deeply intertwined. The creative flow moves from possibilities to actualities, but the objects and conditions present then give rise to new possibilities. When observation leads to exploration, however, any action taken to explore and measure reality also has a creative role in helping to determine the state of things, or the outcome of events - thus changing how they appear. In this sense; the real challenge is to understand what plays the role of object, and what takes on the role of information, at a given point in the process. Ergo; this paper is devoted to sorting this matter out.
Jonathan J. Dickau