[Paper Review] Info-Computationalism and Philosophical Aspects of Research in Information Sciences

Gordana Dodig-Crnković|arXiv (Cornell University)|Jul 3, 2012

Computability, Logic, AI Algorithms6 references3 citations

TL;DR

This paper introduces info-computationalism (ICON) as a unifying framework that synthesizes pancomputationalism and paninformationalism to integrate natural phenomena, cognition, and knowledge production within a computational-informational structure of the universe. It proposes that physical reality is a network of computational processes operating on information, offering a philosophical foundation for interdisciplinary communication across specialized fields in the digital age.

ABSTRACT

The historical development has lead to the decay of Natural Philosophy which until 19th century included all of our knowledge about the physical world into the growing multitude of specialized sciences. The focus on the in-depth enquiry disentangled from its broad context lead to the problem of loss of common world-view and impossibility of communication between specialist research fields because of different languages they developed in isolation. The need for a new unifying framework is becoming increasingly apparent with the information technology enabling and intensifying the communication between different research fields and knowledge communities. This time, not only natural sciences, but also all of human knowledge is being integrated in a global network such as Internet with its diverse knowledge and language communities. Info-computationalism (ICON) as a synthesis of pancomputationalism and paninformationalism presents a unifying framework for understanding of natural phenomena including living beings and their cognition, their ways of processing information and producing knowledge. Within ICON physical universe is understood as a network of computational processes on an informational structure.

Motivation & Objective

• To address the fragmentation of scientific knowledge due to specialization and isolated language development.
• To propose a unifying philosophical framework that integrates natural sciences, cognition, and human knowledge systems.
• To overcome communication barriers between specialized research fields in the context of global information networks like the Internet.
• To reframe the universe as an informational-computational network, restoring a shared worldview.
• To establish info-computationalism (ICON) as a foundation for future research in information sciences and interdisciplinary inquiry.

Proposed method

• Proposes info-computationalism (ICON) as a synthesis of pancomputationalism and paninformationalism.
• Models the physical universe as a network of computational processes operating on an underlying informational structure.
• Draws on historical developments in science to justify the need for a new unifying framework.
• Uses philosophical analysis to reframe knowledge production and cognition as information-processing phenomena.
• Positions the Internet and digital communication as catalysts for reintegration of fragmented knowledge domains.
• Argues that shared computational and informational principles can enable communication across diverse scientific and linguistic communities.

Experimental results

Research questions

• RQ1 How can a unified framework be established to integrate the growing fragmentation of specialized scientific disciplines?
• RQ2 What philosophical foundation can support the integration of natural phenomena, cognition, and knowledge production across disciplines?
• RQ3 In what way can information and computation serve as fundamental principles for understanding the universe and human knowledge?
• RQ4 How does the rise of global digital networks like the Internet influence the need for a unifying worldview in science?
• RQ5 What role does info-computationalism play in restoring coherence to a world of isolated scientific languages and communities?

Key findings

• Info-computationalism (ICON) provides a philosophical and conceptual framework that unifies natural phenomena, cognition, and knowledge production through computational and informational principles.
• The universe is conceptualized as a network of computational processes operating on an informational substrate, offering a new ontological foundation.
• Specialization in science has led to loss of a common worldview and barriers to interdisciplinary communication.
• Digital technologies and global networks like the Internet intensify the need for a unifying framework based on shared computational and informational structures.
• The integration of human knowledge across disciplines is feasible through a common info-computational language grounded in information sciences.
• The paper establishes ICON as a viable philosophical foundation for future research in information sciences and interdisciplinary science.