A Philosophy of Information: Information is the Power That Drives and Controls Us All - Softcover

Smith, Bernard T.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1412074045 ISBN 13: 9781412074049

Publisher: Trafford Publishing, 2005

Synopsis

(re-printed in November 2007 with an impressive Names and Subjects index)

The author's personal website ,which is devoted entirely to his book, is accesible at:

www.theinformationstory.com.

"A topical review of the book, by SIX OF ONE (the prisoner appreciation society), is given under Preview. Other reviews of the book as well as more background to the book, may be reached at the author's blog: aphilosophyofinformation.wordpress.com.

A Philosophy of Information by Bernard Smith tells us how Information Technology (IT) is changing our lives and may be our species. It warns us of many of its dangers which we ignore at our peril. The book should be of interest to everyone using IT .Indeed because, for human beings, information is exactly the same thing as memory; the book should also be of interest to everyone concerned with human mind and memory.

Our memory is the start of our consciousness and is at the heart of our existence. Like computer memory; our memory may be held in many places; not only in the brain where it is processed but in the body and beyond. The right and proper uses of our memory are examined, as are sometimes less laudable connections like dreaming. Minor aberrations of the mind such as compulsion and eccentricity are also considered, as is serious mental illness.

Human memory is shown to be an important part of meditation, as well as a basis for Faith and similar disciplines. The role of memory in manifestations of the paranormal and in the "appearance" of ghosts is also examined. The effects of IT on global warming are discussed and are identified possibly as great a danger to the environment as are the world's vast emissions of carbon.

About this title

Synopsis

"A Philosophy of Information" by Bernard Smith tells us how Information Technology is changing our lives, the services on which we depend, and maybe even our species. As a result of new Information Technology, we are discovering fundamental truths about the properties of Information; and crucially what it means to be human. The truths we are finding are very often contrary to the laws of Physics. Unlike the law on the Conservation of Energy and Matter, for example, there is no law on the Conservation of Information. If I give someone something physical; that person has it, but I do not. When I give someone information, we both have it. Information for human beings is extremely close to memory. Memory is the "stuff" that drives and controls both us and computers alike. Memory is Information. It is the starting point for consciousness and for everything that we and computers can ever "know", "think about" or "do". Information and human memory are for us as close to knowing what existence is as we can get. In the Age of information in which, there is such amazing progress, discovery, and promise; there are also (alas) many hidden dangers we ignore at our peril. There has never been such an urgent need as there is now for a philosophy of information and for guidance on avoiding the traps that await us. The Information Society has a responsibility, indeed a duty, to use information wisely. In the hope that others will continue the work that has been started, Appendix A of the book contains a novel 56-page, cross referenced, and very detailed list of the study's principal findings. Therein resides potentially a host of quotable sayings.

Edition details

• Publisher: Trafford Publishing
• Publication date: 2005
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1412074045
• ISBN 13: 9781412074049
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 508