In the Beginning was Information

We can distinguish two types of action:a) Fixed:– programmed actions (e. g. mechanical manufacturingprocesses, the operation of data processing programs, constructionof biological cells, respiration, blood circulation,and the functioning of organs)– instinctive acts (behaviour of animals)– trained actions (e. g. police dogs, and circus performancesinvolving lions, elephants, horses, bears, tigers, dogs, seals,dolphins, etc.)b) Flexible and creative:– learnt activities like social manners and manual skills– sensible actions (humans)– intuitive actions (humans)– intelligent actions based on free will (humans)All the activities of the recipient can depend on information thathas previously been conceptualised by the sender for the intendedpurpose. On the other hand, intelligent actions that do not derivefrom a sender are also possible.A relevant theorem is the following:Theorem 18: Information is able to cause the recipient to takesome action (stimulate, initialise, or implement). This reactivefunctioning of information is valid for both inanimate systems(e. g. computers, and an automatic car wash) as well as livingorganisms (e. g. activities in cells, actions of animals, and activitiesof human beings).4.5 The Fifth Level of Information: ApobeticsWe consider book B for the last time to illustrate one further levelof information. Goethe once said: “Certain books seem to havebeen written not so much to enable one to learn something, but toshow that the author knew something.” This reason for writing abook, which is of course not worth emulating, does, however,75