信息的本质与信号的演化——当代西方信息理论述评

The Nature of Information and the Evolution of Signals:Contemporary Western Theories of Information

当代对信息的研究开始由对信息量的研究转变到对信息质的研究,从仅研究信息的语法方面,转变到对其语义和语用方面的研究。弗洛里迪对信息概念做了静态的概念结构分析,并认为应该建立以信息概念为基础的第一哲学——信息哲学;笛肯转化了对信息的隐喻,用系统动力学把信息语法、语义和语用三方面统一起来;斯凯姆斯用博弈论、信息论、进化论和学习论来研究了信号的演化问题。

Contemporary studies of information have turned from the studies of its quantity to its quality, and from its syntax to its semantics and pragmatics. Luciano Floridi makes a static analysis of the structure of information and advocates that we establish philosophy of information, a first philosophy based on our concept of information. Terrence Deacon turns from a metaphorical interpretation of information to a dynamic approach to information, trying to unify its three aspects, i.e. syntax, semantics, and pragmatics. Brian Skyrms studies the mechanics of the evolution of signals with game theory, information theory, evolution theory, and study theory.