A Unified Theory of Information

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A Unified Theory of Information

• Information based upon Self-Organisation
• Wolfgang Hofkirchner
• Vienna University of Technology

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A New Information Concept

• Requirements
• Concepts
• The Unifying Perspective
• 3.1 Information (in general)
• 3.2 Information (concrete)
• 3.2.1 Dimensions
• 3.2.2 Types
• 3.2.3 Categories (Dimensions and Types
  Cross-Tabled)

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1 Requirements for a Unified Concept

• A flexible, unity-in-diversity-like concept is
  needed
• as general as necessary to comprise the whole
  diversity of manifestations (genus proximum)
• as concrete as possible to fit the most
  particular manifestation (differentia specifica)

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2 Information Concepts
Cognition Communication Co-operation
Science and technology perspective Information is a thing that is... Information is a thing that is... Information is a thing that is...
Science and technology perspective received and processed transmitted stored and retrieved
Humanities perspective Or is constructed by actors... Or is constructed by actors... Or is constructed by actors...
Humanities perspective internally interactionally externally
Unifying perspective It emerges whenever systems relate to... It emerges whenever systems relate to... It emerges whenever systems relate to...
Unifying perspective their umwelt each other their supersystem
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3 The Unifying Perspective

• Information-generating systems are
  self-organising systems

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3.1 Information (in general)

• The system allows a difference in its
  environment/co-systems/supersystem to make a
  difference to itself
• The system a self-organising system
• The difference outside a change in the control
  parameter (critical value)
• The difference inside a change in the order
  parameter brought about by the very process of
  self-organisation

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3.1 Information (in general) in
Self-Organisation Terms

• The system allows a difference in its
  environment/co-systems/supersystem to make a
  difference to itself

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3.1 Information (in general) in
Self-Organisation Terms

• The system allows a difference in its
  environment/co-systems/supersystem to make a
  difference to itself
• The system a self-organising system

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3.1 Information (in general) in
Self-Organisation Terms

• The system allows a difference in its
  environment/co-systems/supersystem to make a
  difference to itself
• The system a self-organising system
• The difference outside a change in the control
  parameter (critical value)

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3.1 Information (in general) in
Self-Organisation Terms

• The system allows a difference in its
  environment/co-systems/supersystem to make a
  difference to itself
• The system a self-organising system
• The difference outside a change in the control
  parameter (critical value)
• The difference inside a change in the order
  parameter brought about by the very process of
  self-organisation

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3.1 Information (in general) in Semiotic Terms

• The system allows a difference in its
  environment/co-systems/supersystem to make a
  difference to itself

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3.1 Information (in general) in Semiotic Terms

• The system allows a difference in its
  environment/co-systems/supersystem to make a
  difference to itself
• The system the signmaker (signator)

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3.1 Information (in general) in Semiotic Terms

• The system allows a difference in its
  environment/co-systems/supersystem to make a
  difference to itself
• The system the signmaker (signator)
• The difference outside the object to
  be/signified (signandum/signatum)

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3.1 Information (in general) in Semiotic Terms

• The system allows a difference in its
  environment/co-systems/supersystem to make a
  difference to itself
• The system the signmaker (signator)
• The difference outside the object to
  be/signified (signandum/signatum)
• The difference inside the sign (signans)

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3.2 Information (concrete)

• Information processes vary due to the respective
  self-organisation process
• Dimensions
• Types
• Categories (dimensions and types cross-tabled)

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3.2.1 Dimensions

• Self-organisation Dimensions
• Individual
• Interactional
• Integrational

• Information Generation Dimensions
• Cognitive
• Communicative
• Co-operative

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3.2.1 DimensionsProcess of Self-Organisation
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3.2.1 DimensionsCognitive Information
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3.2.1 DimensionsCommunicative Information
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3.2.1 DimensionsCo-operative Information
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3.2.2 Types

• Self-organisation Types
• Dissipation
• Autopoiesis
• Re-creation

• Information Generation Types
• Pattern Formation
• Formation of Survival Functions
• Formation of HumanExpectations

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3.2.2 TypesPattern Formation
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3.2.2 Types Formation of (Survival) Functions
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3.2.2 Types Formation of (Human) Expectations
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3.2.3 Categories
Pattern Formation Ability Ability to Form Functions Ability to Form Expectations
Cogni-sability Reflectivity Psyche Conscious-ness
Communi-cability Coherency Signalability Language-ability
Co-operability Cohesive-ness Organicity Sociability
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3.2.3 Cognisability

• In dissipative systemsReflectivity REFLECTION
  (protosemiotic echoes)
• In autopoietic systems Psyche FLEXIBLE
  RESPONSE (parasyntactic sensation
  para-semanticopragmatic motivation)
• In re-creative systems Consciousness IDEA
  (syntactic data semantic knowledge pragmatic
  wisdom)

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3.2.3 Communicability

• In dissipative systemsCoherency
  COHERENCE(protosemiotic resonances)
• In autopoietic systems Signalability
  ANTICIPATION (para-syntactic re-presentation
  para-semanticopragmatic reorientation)
• In re-creative systems Languageability
  UNDERSTANDING (syntactic expressive tuning
  semantic indicative tuning pragmatic
  appellative tuning)

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3.2.3 Co-operability

• In dissipative systemsCohesiveness COHESION
  (protosemiotic collectives)
• In autopoietic systems Organicity ORGANIC
  ORGANISATION (para-syntactic specialisation
  para-semanticopragmatic complementation)
• In re-creative systems Sociability SENSE
  (syntactic coordination semantic collaboration
  pragmatic consensualisation)