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Cited by 237Scientific Research and Philosophical InquiryCybernetics and Technology in SocietyInformation Society and Technology Trends

What is the Philosophy of Information?

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Floridi, Luciano·2002·Metaphilosophy
DOI 10.1111/1467-9973.00221
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Abstract

Computational and information‐theoretic research in philosophy has become increasingly fertile and pervasive, giving rise to a wealth of interesting results. In consequence, a new and vitally important field has emerged, the philosophy of information (PI). This essay is the first attempt to analyse the nature of PI systematically. PI is defined as the philosophical field concerned with the critical investigation of the conceptual nature and basic principles of information, including its dynamics, utilisation, and sciences, and the elaboration and application of information‐theoretic and computational methodologies to philosophical problems. I argue that PI is a mature discipline for three reasons: it represents an autonomous field of research; it provides an innovative approach to both traditional and new philosophical topics; and it can stand beside other branches of philosophy, offering a systematic treatment of the conceptual foundations of the world of information and the information society.

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  • There is no consensus on a single, unified definition of semantic information.

    “There is no consensus yet on the definition of semantic information.”

    From Is Semantic Information Meaningful Data? (2005) · cites this paper as Floridi [2002], [2004a], [2005]

    Section 5 (p. 137) says there is no consensus on a single, unified definition of information. It mentions a proposed revision to the definition of semantic information, but does not specifically say there is no consensus on that narrower definition. (LLM, conf=0.85)

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Research works printed but not linked: 33

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  6. Charles Ess, Jim Fetzer, Ken Herold, and Jim Moor read the final version and made very valuable comments. All remaining errors are mine. This research has been partly supported by two grants, one from the Coimbra Group, Pavia University, and one from Wolfson College, Oxford.
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Authors
Floridi, L.
Affiliations
University of Oxford (GB)
Corresponding author
Floridi, Luciano
ORCID
Floridi, Luciano
Venue
Metaphilosophy
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2002-01
Volume
33
Issue
1-2
Pages
123-145
ISSN
  • 0026-1068 (ISSN-L)
  • 1467-9973
DOI
10.1111/1467-9973.00221
OpenAlex
W2104975200
Cited by
237
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 24 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 15 · 2014: 13 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 7
FWCI
24.96
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor, 388 d)
Locations
  • Metaphilosophy (publishedVersion)
  • PhilPapers (PhilPapers Foundation) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Information Systems › Scientific Research and Philosophical Inquiry
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › History and Philosophy of Science › Cybernetics and Technology in Society
  • Social Sciences › General Social Sciences › Information Society and Technology Trends
Keywords
philosophy of information, information, computational philosophy, information society, nature of information

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