Philosophy of information
The philosophy of information (PI) is the philosophical field concerned with
(a) the critical investigation of the conceptual nature and basic principles of information, including its dynamics, utilisation and sciences, and
(b) the elaboration and application of information-theoretic and computational methodologies to philosophical problems.
PI has been established as a field of research by the work of Norbert Wiener, Alan Turing, William Ross Ashby and many other scientists working on computing and information theory back in the 50s.
Defining information
No universal definition of "information" itself has become possible yet. Depending on the context, different phenomena get called "information." Three kinds of phenomena are commonly referred to as "information":
- Information as a cognitive process;
- Information as knowledge imparted;
- Signifying objects (data, documents, and the like) are commonly referred to as "information."
Further, the word "information" is commonly used so metaphorically or so abstractly that the meaning is unclear.
Rather than being important in itself, information becomes so because of its relationship to knowledge. As Francis Bacon observed in 1597: "Nam et ipsa scientia potestas est," knowledge is power. He did not say, "Information is power." Knowledge is power, because "Scientia et potentia humana in idem coincidunt, quia ignoratio causae destuit effectum." (Human knowledge and human power meet in one, because where the cause is not known the effect cannot be produced.) Knowledge is empowering. Information, then, can be indirectly empowering to the extent to which knowledge is derived from it.
Computing and philosophy
Recent creative advances and efforts in computing, such as semantic web, ontology engineering, knowledge engineering, and modern artificial intelligence provide philosophy with fertile notions, new and evolving subject matters, methodologies, and models for philosophical inquiry. While Computing science brings new opportunities and challenges to traditional philosophical studies, and changes the ways philosophers understand foundational concepts in philosophy, further major progress in computer science would only be feasible when philosophy provides sound foundations for areas such as bioinformatics, software engineering, knowledge engineering, and ontologies.
Classical themes of philosophy, namely, mind, consciousness, experience, reasoning, knowledge, truth, ethics and creativity are rapidly becoming common concerns and foci of investigation in computing science (e.g., in areas such as agent computing, software agents, and intelligent mobile agent technologies) as well.
See also
External Links
- [1] PI website
- Luciano Floridi, What is the Philosophy of Information?
- [2] Luciano Floridi, Open Problems in the Philosophy of Information, revised version of The Herbert A. Simon Lecture on Computing and Philosophy given at Carnegie Mellon University in 2001, with realvideo [3] and powerpoint presentation [4].
- The Blackwell Guide to the Philosophy of Computing and Information, edited by Luciano Floridi (Oxford - New York: Blackwell, 2004)