From Molecules to Consciousness: The Origin of Life and Cosmic Complexity from the Perspective of ICI and DCSFWM

Complexity and the Perspective of Information Systems The origin of life is not merely the accumulation of molecular diversity or reactions but the emergence of an information-processing system. Living systems exhibit dynamic complexity beyond chemistry, through environmental sensing, signal processing, and memory storage. This complexity is reflected not only in molecular diversity and reaction rates but also in the emergence of feedback loops, interaction frequencies, and memory capacities. The fragmented approaches of traditional theories struggle to capture this holistic nature, necessitating a unified framework to integrate chemical, physical, and informational processes. The Introduction of ICI and DCSFWM This book introduces the Information Complexity Index (ICI) and the DCSFWM framework (Diversity(D), Scale(C), Speed(S), Feedback Loops(F), Interaction Frequency(W), Memory Complexity(M)) to quantify the information-processing capacity of complex systems. The ICI defines the origin of life as the transition from disordered chemical systems to ordered information-processing systems, through two dimensions: basic complexity ((Dcdot Ccdot S)) and emergent complexity ((Fcdot Wcdot M)). The DCSFWM framework is not only applicable to the origin of life but also extends to cosmic evolution, artificial intelligence, and social systems, providing a universal language for complexity. The Cosmic Context of Life’s Origin The origin of life is not an isolated event but a pivotal node in the evolution of cosmic complexity. From the quark-gluon plasma after the Big Bang to the formation of galaxies, and from molecular self-assembly on Earth to the emergence of life, the universe has undergone a journey from simplicity to complexity. The origin of life marks a transition from passive (physico-chemical driven) to active (information-processing driven) complexity. The ICI framework situates the origin of life within this grand narrative, exploring its significance as a critical threshold in cosmic complexity evolution. Core Mission of the Book The origin of life is the ultimate question at the intersection of science and philosophy, representing not only the molecular transformation into cells on Earth but also a critical node in the evolution of cosmic complexity. This book aims to redefine the essence of life’s origin through the Information Complexity Index (ICI) and the DCSFWM framework (Diversity(D), Scale(C), Speed(S), Feedback Loops(F), Interaction Frequency(W), Memory Complexity(M))—the transition from disordered chemical ensembles to ordered information-processing systems. Moving beyond traditional chemical reductionism, we focus on the encoding, processing, and emergence of information, revealing how life’s origin evolved from molecular complexity to dynamic systems with rudimentary consciousness. Reexamining the Origin of Life Traditional studies on life’s origin have focused on specific mechanisms, such as RNA self-replication, energy gradients in hydrothermal vents, or catalytic surfaces of clay. While these perspectives provide critical insights, they fail to capture the dynamic characteristics of life as a holistic system: sensing the environment, regulating reactions, and storing memory. Through the ICI framework, this book situates life’s origin within the dual lenses of information processing and complexity evolution, proposing that life is not merely a chemical product but an emergent phenomenon of information flow and feedback networks. This perspective integrates existing theories and offers new pathways to explore the cosmic significance of life.