A Concise Account of Information as Meaning Ascribed to Symbols and Its Association with Conscious Mind.
Yunus A Çengel
Entropy (Basel, Switzerland) January 16, 2023 DOI: 10.3390/e25010177 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Knowledge Mind Meaning Consciousness Transmission of information Symbols of information |
| Key points | Argues that information is meaning represented by physical symbols, while knowledge is meaning residing in a conscious mind, and that symbols and meaning cannot be reduced to one another. Contends that symbols of information can be transmitted but meaning cannot pass between minds without a common protocol or convention, and proposes a framework unifying definitions of information around mind, meaning, and symbols. |
Abstract
The term information is used in different meanings in different fields of study and daily life, causing misunderstanding and confusion. There is a need to clarify what information is and how it relates to knowledge. It is argued that information is meaning represented by physical symbols such as sights, sounds, and words. Knowledge is meaning that resides in a conscious mind. The basic building blocks of information are symbols and meaning, which cannot be reduced to one another. The symbols of information are the physical media of representation and the means of transmission of information. Without the associated meaning, the symbols of information have no significance since meaning is an ascribed and acquired quality and not an inherent property of the symbols. We can transmit symbols of information but cannot transmit meaning from one mind to another without a common protocol or convention. A concise and cohesive framework for information can be established on the common ground of the mind, meaning, and symbols trio. Using reasoned arguments, logical consistency, and conformity with common experiences and observations as the methodology, this paper offers valuable insights to facilitate clear understanding and unifies several definitions of information into one in a cohesive manner.