On beyond an algorithmic universe  Paul Grobstein's picture
Very rich conversations this week with Stuart Kauffman, a
theoretical biologist, Alan Baker, a philosopher, and Scott
Gilbert, a developmental biologist, first over dinner and then
during a panel discussion with additional input from Mark
Kuperberg, an economist, and Billie Grassie, founder of the
Metanexus Institute on Religion and Science.  Delighted if any
of them wanted to weigh in with their own thoughts in the on-
line forum below (along with anyone else interested in the
subjects discussed).  Kauffman and I, unbeknownst to either of
us, have been exploring related but distinct paths to a similar
place, a conception of the universe which is consistent with but
not constrained by physical law, a universe whose evolution is
non-algorithmic and so open to the appearance of phenomena that
could not in principle be predicted from a complete description
of physical laws and starting conditions, a universe within
which humans are causal agents in that