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Dear Terry and FIS colleagues---and pirates,<small><br>
<br>
</small><big><small>Just a brief reflection on the below. </small><br>
<br>
</big>
<pre wrap=""><small>(From Terry's last message)...
So my goal in this case is quite modest, and yet perhaps also a bit
foolhardy. I want to suggest a simplest possible model system to use
as the basis for formalizing the link between physical processes and
semiotic processes. Perhaps someday after considerably elaborating
this analysis it could contribute to issues of the psychology of human
interactions. I hope to recruit some interest into pursuing this goal.</small></pre>
In my view, any research endeavor is also accompanied by some
"ultimate" goals or ends that go beyond the quite explicit disciplinary
ones. In this case, say, about the destiny of the constructs that would
surround the information concept (or the possibility of framing an
informational perspective, or a renewed information science, or
whatever), wouldn't it be interesting discussing in extenso what could
that ultimate vision? <br>
<br>
I mean, most of us may agree in quite many points related to the
microphysical (& thermodynamic) underpinning of information, as it
transpires in the exchanges we are having--but where do we want to
arrive finally with the construction activity? <small><small><small><span
style="font-family: Arial; color: black;" lang="EN-US"></span></small></small></small>I
tend to disagree with localist aims, even though at the time being they
may look more prudent and parsimonious. Putting it in brief, too
briefly!, and borrowing from Rosenbloom (P.S.
2013. On Computing: The Fourth Great
Scientific Domain) the idea is that information
science, properly developed and linked with computer science and
mathematics, should
constitute one of the Great Domains of contemporary science. The
informational
would go together with the physical, the biological, and the social:
constituting
the four great domains of science. See Figure below. Rather than
attempting the
construction of another average or standard discipline, information
science is
about the making out of one of the “great scientific domains” of
contemporary
knowledge.<br>
<br>
More cogent arguments could be elaborated on how to cover
sceintifically the whole "information world" (human societies, behaving
individuals, brain organization, cellular processes, biomolecules) and
the problem of interlocking--crisscrossing a myriad of information
flows at all levels. But the point is, "ends", although unassailable,
may be as much important as "beginnings".<br>
<br>
Thanks in advance for the patience!<br>
<br>
---Pedro<br>
<br>
<small><span style="font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-US"><span
style="color: black;"></span></span></small><br>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-US"><span
style="color: black;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span>
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<br>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><big><big><big><big><big><b
style=""><span
style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Arial; color: black;"
lang="EN-US">Figure
1. The Four Great Domains of Science</span></b><span
style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Arial; color: black;"
lang="EN-US">. The graphic shows the network of contemporary
disciplines in the background; <br>
while the superimposed “four-leaf clover” represents
the four great scientific domains.<o:p></o:p></span></big></big></big></big></big></p>
<br>
<br>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
-------------------------------------------------
Pedro C. Marijuán
Grupo de Bioinformación / Bioinformation Group
Instituto Aragonés de Ciencias de la Salud
Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Aragón (CIBA)
Avda. San Juan Bosco, 13, planta X
50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Tfno. +34 976 71 3526 (& 6818)
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:pcmarijuan.iacs@aragon.es">pcmarijuan.iacs@aragon.es</a>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://sites.google.com/site/pedrocmarijuan/">http://sites.google.com/site/pedrocmarijuan/</a>
-------------------------------------------------
</pre>
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