A Unified Theory of Information

1. A Unified Theory of Information Information based upon Self-Organisation Wolfgang Hofkirchner Vienna University of Technology

2. 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) Wolfgang Hofkirchner, Vienna University of Technology

3. 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) Wolfgang Hofkirchner, Vienna University of Technology

4. 2 Information Concepts Wolfgang Hofkirchner, Vienna University of Technology

5. 3 The Unifying Perspective Information-generating systems are self-organising systems Wolfgang Hofkirchner, Vienna University of Technology

6. 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 Wolfgang Hofkirchner, Vienna University of Technology

7. 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 Wolfgang Hofkirchner, Vienna University of Technology

8. 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 Wolfgang Hofkirchner, Vienna University of Technology

9. 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) Wolfgang Hofkirchner, Vienna University of Technology

10. 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 Wolfgang Hofkirchner, Vienna University of Technology

11. 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 Wolfgang Hofkirchner, Vienna University of Technology

12. 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) Wolfgang Hofkirchner, Vienna University of Technology

13. 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) Wolfgang Hofkirchner, Vienna University of Technology

14. 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) Wolfgang Hofkirchner, Vienna University of Technology

15. 3.2 Information (concrete) Information processes vary due to the respective self-organisation process: • Dimensions • Types • Categories (dimensions and types cross-tabled) Wolfgang Hofkirchner, Vienna University of Technology

16. Self-organisation Dimensions: Individual Interactional Integrational Information Generation Dimensions: Cognitive Communicative Co-operative 3.2.1 Dimensions: Wolfgang Hofkirchner, Vienna University of Technology

17. 3.2.1 Dimensions:Process of Self-Organisation Wolfgang Hofkirchner, Vienna University of Technology

18. 3.2.1 Dimensions:Cognitive Information Wolfgang Hofkirchner, Vienna University of Technology

19. 3.2.1 Dimensions:Communicative Information Wolfgang Hofkirchner, Vienna University of Technology

20. 3.2.1 Dimensions:Co-operative Information Wolfgang Hofkirchner, Vienna University of Technology

21. Self-organisation Types: Dissipation Autopoiesis Re-creation Information Generation Types: Pattern Formation Formation of Survival Functions Formation of HumanExpectations 3.2.2 Types Wolfgang Hofkirchner, Vienna University of Technology

22. 3.2.2 Types:Pattern Formation Wolfgang Hofkirchner, Vienna University of Technology

23. 3.2.2 Types: Formation of (Survival) Functions Wolfgang Hofkirchner, Vienna University of Technology

24. 3.2.2 Types: Formation of (Human) Expectations Wolfgang Hofkirchner, Vienna University of Technology

25. 3.2.3 Categories Wolfgang Hofkirchner, Vienna University of Technology

26. 3.2.3 Cognisability • In dissipative systemsReflectivity: “REFLECTION” (protosemiotic echoes) • In autopoietic systemsPsyche: “FLEXIBLE RESPONSE” (parasyntactic sensation – para-semanticopragmatic motivation) • In re-creative systemsConsciousness: “IDEA” (syntactic data – semantic knowledge – pragmatic wisdom) Wolfgang Hofkirchner, Vienna University of Technology

27. 3.2.3 Communicability • In dissipative systemsCoherency: “COHERENCE”(protosemiotic resonances) • In autopoietic systemsSignalability: “ANTICIPATION” (para-syntactic re-presentation – para-semanticopragmatic reorientation) • In re-creative systemsLanguageability: “UNDERSTANDING” (syntactic expressive tuning – semantic indicative tuning – pragmatic appellative tuning) Wolfgang Hofkirchner, Vienna University of Technology

28. 3.2.3 Co-operability • In dissipative systemsCohesiveness: “COHESION” (protosemiotic collectives) • In autopoietic systemsOrganicity: “ORGANIC ORGANISATION” (para-syntactic specialisation – para-semanticopragmatic complementation) • In re-creative systemsSociability: “SENSE” (syntactic coordination – semantic collaboration – pragmatic consensualisation) Wolfgang Hofkirchner, Vienna University of Technology