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Word Gems
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Quantum Mechanics
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John Wheeler invented the phrases "black hole", "worm hole", "there is no out there out there", also "it from bit"; that is, the universe ("it") derives from an underlying computer-like information source ("bit").
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a discussion on the website https://www.quora.com/What-does-John-Wheeler-mean-by-his-famous-It-from-bit-idea?share=1
Wheeler’s idea of “It from Bit” is the result of his attempt to distill the essential idea that he considers to be the best working hypothesis for the foundations of physics. Wheeler himself explains the idea of “It from Bit” as follows:
"Every it — every particle, every field of force, even the spacetime continuum itself — derives its function, its meaning, its very existence entirely — even if in some contexts indirectly — from the apparatus-elicited answers to yes or no questions, binary choices, bits.
"It from Bit symbolizes the idea that every item of the physical world has at bottom — at a very deep bottom, in most instances — an immaterial source and explanation; that what we call reality arises in the last analysis from the posing of yes-no questions and the registering of equipment-evoked responses; in short, that all things physical are information-theoretic in origin and this is a participatory universe."
Elsewhere he has written,
"If we’re ever going to find an element of nature that explains space and time, we surely have to find something that is deeper than space and time—something that itself has no localization in space and time … something of a pure knowledge-theoretical character, an atom of information which has no localization in between the point of entry and the point of registration."
He envisioned the possibility of deriving space, time, and quantum theory itself from some kind of information-like fundamental principle of distinguishability. He did not provide any precise definition of such a principle. It is more of a vague proposal for a research program in the foundations of physics...
(another opinion)
My favorite physicist is John Archibald Wheeler who wrote: “...it is not unreasonable to imagine that information sits at the core of physics, just as it sits at the core of a computer. It from bit.
Otherwise put, every 'it'—every particle, every field of force, even the space-time continuum itself—derives its function, its meaning, its very existence entirely—even if in some contexts indirectly—from the apparatus-elicited answers to yes-or-no questions, binary choices, bits. 'It from bit' symbolizes the idea that every item of the physical world has at bottom—a very deep bottom, in most instances—an immaterial source and explanation; that which we call reality arises in the last analysis from the posing of yes–no questions and the registering of equipment-evoked responses; in short, that all things physical are information-theoretic in origin and that this is a participatory universe.”
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