1st Edition

The Routledge Handbook of Philosophy of Information

Edited By Luciano Floridi Copyright 2016
    448 Pages
    by Routledge

    446 Pages
    by Routledge

    Information and communication technology occupies a central place in the modern world, with society becoming increasingly dependent on it every day. It is therefore unsurprising that it has become a growing subject area in contemporary philosophy, which relies heavily on informational concepts. The Routledge Handbook of Philosophy of Information is an outstanding reference source to the key topics and debates in this exciting subject and is the first collection of its kind. Comprising over thirty chapters by a team of international contributors the Handbook is divided into four parts:

    • basic ideas
    • quantitative and formal aspects
    • natural and physical aspects
    • human and semantic aspects.

    Within these sections central issues are examined, including probability, the logic of information, informational metaphysics, the philosophy of data and evidence, and the epistemic value of information.

    The Routledge Handbook of Philosophy of Information is essential reading for students and researchers in philosophy, computer science and communication studies.

    Introduction - Mapping the Philosophy of Information Luciano Floridi

    Part 1: Basic Ideas

    1. Physics and Information Nathan Harshman
    2. Probability and Information Peter Milne
    3. Computation and Information Gualtiero Piccinini & Andrea Scarantino
    4. Mathematical Theory of Information (Shannon) Olimpia I. Lombardi
    5. Algorithmic Information Theory (Kolmogorov) Alexander Shen
    6. Semantic Information Luciano Floridi
    7. The Method of Levels of Abstraction Luciano Floridi

    Part 2: Quantitative and Formal Aspects

    1. 
The Logic of Information Patrick Allo
    2. Information Processing and Instructional Information Marty Wolf & Nir Fresco
    3. Information in the Philosophy of Computer Science Giuseppe Primiero
    4. Information in the Philosophy of AI and the Symbol Grounding Problem Selmer Bringsjord
    5. The Philosophy of Distributed Information (social information, announcements, testimony) Vincent Hendricks & Rasmus Rendsvig
    6. Modelling Information (philosophy of simulation/model) Patrick Grim
    7. The Decisional Value of Information (choice/decision theory, phil. of economics, game theory) Martin Peterson
    8. The Philosophy of Mathematical Information Marcello D’Agostino
    9. Bayesianism and information Jon Williamson & Michael Wilde

    Part 3: Natural and Physical Aspects

    1. The Philosophy of Data and Evidence Sabina Leonelli
    2. Informational Metaphysics (the informational nature of reality) Terry Bynum
    3. The Philosophy of Quantum Information Chris Timpson
    4. Causality and Information Phyllis Illari & Federica Russo
    5. Philosophy of Science and Information Ioannis Votsis
    6. Teleosemantics and Ecological Information John Symons
    7. The Philosophy of Biological Information Barton Moffatt
    8. The Philosophy of Semiotic Information Sara Cannizzaro
    9. The Philosophy of Communication and Information Ulrich Stegmann

    Part 4: Human and Semantic Aspects

    1. The Epistemic Value of Information (information, cognition, and knowledge) Frederick Adams
    2. Mis- and Dis-information (lying, propaganda etc.) Don Fallis
    3. Information-theoretic Philosophy of Mind William Bechtel & Jason Winning
    4. The Moral Value of Information and Information Ethics Mariarosaria Taddeo
    5. The Aesthetic Value of Information and Information-based Art Katherine Thomson-Jones
    6. The Interpretative Value of Information (hermeneutics, phenomenology) Jan Kyrre Berg Olsen Friis
    7. The Philosophy of Law in an Information Society Ugo Pagallo & Massimo Durante
    8. The Spiritual Value of Information (Informational Approaches to Theology and/or Philosophy of Religion) George Medley

    Biography

    Luciano Floridi is Professor of Philosophy and Ethics of Information, Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford, UK.

    "Some of the discussed topics include probability, computation, mathematical theories of information, semantics information, truth-value of information, quantum information, causality, the representation of information in biological entities, and information in law and art. The result is a volume that is simultaneously accessible, comprehensive, and well balanced. A wide range of readers can benefit from these essays. (...) Summing Up: Recommended. All readers."

    - D. Bantz, University of Alaska in CHOICE