Information Theory as the Foundation of CTMU

At the heart of the Cognitive-Theoretic Model of the Universe (CTMU) lies the concept of information. In this framework, information isn’t merely an abstract idea or a tool for communication—it’s the fundamental building block of reality itself.

Building on the foundation set in the previous post, The Role of Logic and Language in CTMU, which explored how logical and linguistic structures form the scaffolding of reality, this post delves into the indispensable role of information in unifying these elements into a cohesive model. To truly grasp the CTMU, it’s essential to understand how Information Theory provides the foundation for this revolutionary model.

What Is Information Theory?

Information theory is a mathematical framework originally developed by Claude Shannon to study the transmission, storage, and processing of information. At its core, it examines how information can be quantified, encoded, and communicated efficiently. While it has its roots in telecommunications and computing, its principles have since been applied to fields as diverse as biology, linguistics, and physics.

The key insight of information theory is that information isn’t about physical substance—it’s about meaning, structure, and relationships. Information exists wherever there is order, patterns, or the potential for communication.

Information as the Foundation of Reality

In the CTMU, Christopher Langan expands the concept of information far beyond its traditional scope. He proposes that the universe itself is fundamentally informational, meaning that everything we perceive as physical—matter, energy, space, and time—is, at its core, an expression of information.

Langan describes this in Introduction to the CTMU:

The universe is a self-referential system in which information is not only transmitted and processed but also defines the very fabric of reality. In the CTMU, information isn’t passive—it’s the active substance of existence.

This view aligns with recent developments in physics, where researchers have suggested that reality itself might be built on informational processes. For instance, the concept of “it from bit,” proposed by physicist John Archibald Wheeler, suggests that physical reality emerges from fundamental units of information. The CTMU takes this idea further by integrating it with cognitive processes, showing that the universe is both informational and self-aware.

The Universe as a Self-Processing System

One of the key principles of the CTMU is that the universe is a self-processing, self-generating system. Information is not just transmitted passively—it is actively processed, organized, and transformed. This is what allows the universe to evolve, maintain coherence, and generate complexity.

Langan explains this as follows:

In the CTMU, information is both the medium and the message. The universe uses information to model itself, adapt to change, and sustain its existence as a unified whole.

In this framework, the universe isn’t a static collection of objects or events. It’s a dynamic, living system that processes information in ways that mirror cognition. This is why the CTMU describes the universe as a cognitive entity: its informational processes resemble the way human minds think, reason, and adapt.

The Connection Between Information and Cognition

Information theory is central to the CTMU because it bridges the gap between cognition and the universe. Cognition, in the CTMU framework, is the process of interpreting and organizing information. When we think, reason, or perceive, we’re processing information to make sense of the world.

If the universe is fundamentally informational, then cognition isn’t separate from reality—it’s a reflection of it. As Langan puts it:

Human thought is a localized instance of the universe’s distributed self-processing. Our ability to think, reason, and perceive is not separate from the universe but a microcosmic expression of its informational nature.

This connection has profound implications. It suggests that the same principles governing the way we process information—such as logic, pattern recognition, and meaning—are also at work on a universal scale. By studying how we think, we can gain insights into the nature of the universe itself, and vice versa.

Why This Matters

Understanding information theory as the foundation of the CTMU changes the way we see reality. It challenges us to move beyond a purely materialistic view of the universe and embrace a deeper understanding of existence as fundamentally informational.

This perspective also has practical implications. It encourages us to think critically about how we process information in our own lives, from the assumptions we make to the patterns we notice. By refining our understanding of information, we can align ourselves more closely with the principles that govern the universe.

As we continue this series, we’ll explore how information theory connects to other aspects of the CTMU, including logic, language, and the cognitive nature of the universe. For now, consider this: How does the way you process and interpret information shape your experience of reality? And how might seeing the universe as fundamentally informational change the way you think about your place within it?