Other Links:
A Mathematical Theory of Communication
The 1948 paper that founded Information Theory, by mathematician Claude E. Shannon of Bell Labs.
A Short Course in Information Theory
A series of lectures by David MacKay explaining Information Theory. MacKay has also published an on-line text, Information Theory, Inference, and Learning Algorithms
Molecular Information Theory and the Theory of Molecular Machines
A web site explaining the application of Information Theory to biology, by biologist Tom Schneider of the Molecular Information Theory Group at the National Institutes of Health
Biological Information Theory and Chowder Society
FAQ page for the bionet.info-theory newsgroup
G J Chaitin Home Page
The home page of one of Algorithmic Information Theory's inventors, Gregory Chaitin. Many of his papers are available here
Kolmogorov Complexity and Solomonoff Induction
A web site with numerous references and links (some expired) on the ideas of Kolmogorov and Solomonoff.
The Evolution of Improved Fitness
An Talk Origins FAQ by Edward E. Max explaining how evidence from molecular genetics provides evidence for evolution
Information Theory Questions and Answers
The Creationist Answers in Genesis FAQ on Information Theory
Information, Science and Biology
An article by information scientist and creationist Werner Gitt, author of "In the Beginning was Information", arguing that information in living systems must have been created by Jesus Christ.
A Scientific Critique of Evolution
An article by biophysicist, information theorist and creationist Lee M. Spetner, author of "Not by Chance", criticizing the Talk Origins FAQ by Dr. Max
Intelligent Design as a Theory of Information
An article by mathemetician and philosopher William Dembski, author of several books on Intelligent Design.

Recently Creationists, and particularly Intelligent Design advocates, have taken to arguing that information in the genome is evidence for special creation by an intelligent designer (generally assumed to be God), and against evolution. A common Creationist tactic is to ask: "do evolutionists have any examples of mutations or evolutionary processes which have led to an increase in genetic information?" But do they really know what they are talking about?

It is easy to make false, scientific-sounding claims when discussing complex ideas such as Information Theory. Readers should be suspicious of any writing on the subject that:

  • Claims to provide a measure for meaning;
  • Claims to be based on both Classical (Shannon) and Algorithmic (Chaitin-Kolmogorov) Information Theory (or neither);
  • Claims to distinguish between random and non-random data;
  • Proposes new theorems, principles, or laws without thoroughly demonstrating their validity;
  • Infers causality from correlation;
  • Makes unsubstantiated claims about the probability of an event; or
  • Otherwise lacks mathematical rigor.

This series of articles provides a brief overview of Classical Information Theory, Algorithmic Information Theory, and current Creationist arguments about information theory by Gitt, Spetner, and Dembski. Problems with the various Creationist arguments are explained. The complete mathematical background for Classical and Algorithmic Information Theory is not provided here; it is quite detailed and on-line references are provided for those who want to read more.

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[Shannon information] [Algorithmic information] [Gitt information] [Spetner information] [Dembski information]

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