Formalising the “No Information Without Data-Representation” Principle

Presented at CAP in Europe 2007 (Twente, The Netherlands)

Published in Waelbers, Briggle & Brey (eds.), Current Issues in Computing and Philosophy, IOS Press.

Abstract. One of the basic principles of the general definition of information is its rejection of dataless information, which is reflected in its endorsement of an ontological neutrality. In general, this principles states that “there can be no information without physical implementation” (Floridi (2005)). Though this is standardly considered a commonsensical assumption, many questions arise with regard to its generalised application. In this paper a combined logic for data and information is elaborated, and specifically used to investigate the consequences of restricted and unrestricted data-implementation-principles.

download