A New Approach to Information Science: Framing a Naturalistic Perspective

In recent decades, an increasing variety of research fields are converging into information science conceptualizations. They are accompanied by astounding new uses of knowledge and even more astounding social transformations that revolve around information technologies. Whether a robust information science will finally emerge may not only depend on successful discussions about the philosophy of information and the social impact of the new technologies. The most important adjustment to make is about framing a “new way of thinking” or new perspective about information science itself: an inner philosophy interconnecting research practices in fundamental areas of the new science. Like in the historical birth of other major sciences, the empirical, comparative understanding of informational phenomena and informational entities should take place first. Further, a naturalistic perspective, biologically inspired, would help in determining what model systems should be adopted for advancing the comparative study of informational entities. Rather than attempting ill-fated definitions [is information definable at all?] or closely remaining within the confines of information theory, a naturalistic, empirically oriented strategy offers room for advancement. In the end, crafting a great scientific domain around information science –rather than around computing – should be a common goal for the scholars and researchers both from natural sciences and engineering and from social sciences involved in these new studies.