[Fis] A rational definition of information

[Mark Johnson]

Dear Karl, all,

Do we need a definition of "defining" first?

This is my effort:

"Defining is a process of seeking abstract principles which are generative
not only of phenomena themselves, but of our narrative capacities for
explaining them and our empirical faculties for exploring them."

Perhaps others can do better.

Is "Information" a phenomenon to be explained - for which a set of
generative abstract principles are sought?

Or is "Information" the process we are in as we seek generative abstract
principles?

I find myself thinking the latter. I think we can (and will) get
better generative abstract principles. But not from where we are standing
at the moment.

The distinction between "explanandum" and "explanans" must at least in the
first instance be clarified. But it is worth noting that neither of those
ancient terms addresses the process of performing them. We need a different
kind of language.

Best wishes,

Mark




On Sun, 8 Mar 2020 at 11:52, Karl Javorszky <karl.javorszky at gmail.com>
wrote:

> *A rational definition of information*
>             (20200307)
>
>
>
> *Semantic description of the meaning of the term information*
>
> Information is understood to relate to the framework, background of the
> assertion. That, what is the case, is imbedded in such surroundings, to
> which that what is the case, contrasts. Information relates to that, what
> we do not focus on, such parts of the stage, which are not highlighted. In
> this sense, information is the description of the remaining alternatives,
> of that what is not the case. This property of the mental construct
> information makes it so complicated and tricky to get a clear definition of
> the concept: as we want to investigate that, what remains in the half-shade
> or shade, we cannot avoid directing the torch of our intellect towards the
> subject to be investigated, therefore removing it from the half-shade or
> shade.
>
>
>
> *Information, definition of*
>
> *a.: semantic*
>
> The sentence
>
> *It was Peter who did it*
>
> is a statement and contains no information
>
>
>
> The sentence
>
> *It was Peter, from among {Peter, Paul, Susan, Mary}, who did it *
>
> contains the information *{Paul, Susan, Mary} did not do it *
>
>
>
> *b: formal*
>
> The sentence
>
> Let *x = ak*
>
> is a statement and contains no information
>
>
>
> The sentence
>
> Let *x = ak* and *k **Î {1,2,...,k,...,n}*
>
> contains the information *k **Ï {1,2,...,k-1,k+1,...,n}*
>
>
>
> *Information, semantic examples*
>
> We watch a group consisting of *Alma, Bella, Cesar, Daniel.*
>
> *x = ak*
>
> *k **Ï {1,2,...,k-1,k+1,...,n}*
>
> Cesar does the cooking today
>
> The other three can go out;
>
> It is undecided, who among A,B,D will do the dishes
>
> Bella got arrested
>
> That will be the talk among A,C,D
>
> Daniel deceived us all
>
> We shall build an alliance; we are a natural alliance
>
> Alma can’t leave poets and composers alone
>
> If you need someone with moral rectitude, ask for any of us.
>
>
>
> We observe the assignment of a symbol of assertion to 1 of the elements in
> a group of 4, which leaves the remaining 3 elements being assigned a symbol
> of negation. One will find using the notation of *(1,3) *practical for
> the above examples.
>
>
>
> *(Assertion, negation) : (inclusion, exclusion) : (is the case, remaining
> alternatives)*
>
> The notation *(n1,n2) (where n1 + n2 = n) *is a description of the
> informational value of an assertion. It has *two values. *The concept is
> well known in test theory, where we speak of item discrimination
> characteristics.
>
>
>
> *Extracting information by using double negation*
>
> The systematics presented here allows integrating the so-called Shannon
> school of information, by showing that the Shannon concept is but a simple,
> degenerated, trivial special case of the general principle expressed here.
> If we possess a symbol set of *{0,1}, *then *0 *is “*not among those
> which are different to 0 /are not 0/”* and *1* is* “not among those which
> are not 1 /are different to 1/)” *
>
> The logical operators are *{same, different}* and *{included, excluded}. *For
> organisms that possess a memory, the *{included, excluded} *property is
> but a variant of the *{same, different} *property of constituents of
> perception.
>
>
>
> *Relevance for calculation of properties of informational processes in
> Nature*
>
> The approach of using the “remaining alternatives” method for modelling
> processes of Nature stands and falls with the availability of a catalogue
> of alternatives, of which always some remain. This is no problem, as we
> consider that processes of Nature are *periodic, *at least those which we
> experience on this here planet we inhabit.
>
> Periodic processes consist of a limited number of distinct states, which
> follow each other in a strict sequence. In the following example, we shall
> speak of the periodic changes caused by the rotation of the Earth, using
> the notation D/N for day/night changes, and of the periodic changes caused
> by the movements of the Moon, using the notation H/L for high and low tide.
>
>
>
> *To be well ordered*
>
> Let us imagine a collection of some proto-somethings that are dissolved in
> a small niche in the sea. The things will become adapted to their
> surroundings by being ordered according to the ordering principle D/N.
> Concurrently, the things will become adapted to their surroundings by being
> ordered according to the ordering principle H/L, also. For the argument’s
> sake, we shall assume that being optimally ordered for the changes coming
> from day/night will be different to that order, which is optimal for the
> changes coming from the tides.
>
>
>
> *Concurrent ordering requirements*
>
> Some of the learned friends here will remember that the term *cycles *had
> already been mentioned a few times in this excellent chat room. Cycles
> appear as movement patterns and as constitutors of groups of elements
> (members of the corpus of the cycle) which move together during a
> resequencing. The corpus of the cycle contains elements which share the
> common symbol of the cycle, and also symbols that are sequential, depicting
> the strict sequence in which the members of the corpus follow each other
> during a resequencing.
>
> The proto-somethings that are subject to both D/N and H/L periodic changes
> will inevitably fall into cycles during the reorders that are the
> consequences of the periodic processes: day/night and high/low tide. The
> paths created by the cycles remain unchanged for millions and billions of
> repetitions of identical rearrangements. One can well speak of a stable
> collection of possible states the collection of the proto-somethings are
> in. Here we have the collection of remaining alternatives, that is: an
> environment with information content.
>
>
>
> *Variations on a theme by Nature*
>
> The re-arrangements of the elements of the collection of proto-somethings
> are in principle all alike. Yet, their appearance may have a wide range of
> varieties. This comes from two main causes:
>
> a. differing numbers of elements in the corpora: this causes appearances
> of faster /slower changes within sub-systems of one and the same system;
>
> b. differing offsets causing differing collections of elements to be
> contemporaneous: this causes appearances of types and individuals among the
> realisations.
>
>
>
> *Closing remarks*
>
> One would wish for the mechanics behind the Laws of Nature to be more in
> accordance with our imaginations about, how a self-evident,
> self-explanatory set of interdependences of rules will look like.
> Unfortunately, sequencing has to do with sequences, and these deal with
> order and changes of places. The pictures arising from re-ordering mental
> concepts can cause some inner disturbances, the more so for learned friends
> who are used to the idea that they have their mental concepts in the best
> order possible, and any re-arrangements can only be irritating. Let me end
> on an encouraging note: once one has accepted the thought, that properties
> and order determine places, the underlying mechanism of wheels, cogs,
> belts, valves and pistons creates a highly fascinating and educative inner
> entertainment. Good luck!
>
>
> Karl
>
>
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-- 
Dr. Mark William Johnson
Institute of Learning and Teaching
Faculty of Health and Life Sciences
University of Liverpool

Phone: 07786 064505
Email: johnsonmwj1 at gmail.com
Blog: http://dailyimprovisation.blogspot.com
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