FW: [Sigia-l] various definitions of "information"

[David Heller]

-----Original Message-----
From: Heller, David 
Sent: Tuesday, December 31, 2002 9:25 AM
To: 'christina wodtke'; 'sigia l'
Subject: RE: [Sigia-l] various definitions of "information"


I think in Information Anxiety 2, Nathan Shedroff has a pullout section
where he does his usual comparision chart of data, information,
knowledge & wisdom.

To me information is only valuably defined in comparision to other words
like these and not by itself. What is also important is that information
is in a sense an experiential event as much as it is a quantity of
matter. 

Anyway, the definition of information is a fun thing to think about for
sure. But what is really your goal w/ it? A book? To me defining
information is like trying to define love. Yea, makes really good
philosophy but are you really going to give the masses something that is
tangible and useful. You are never going to be able to convince me that
my definition of information is wrong b/c it lives in the intangible of
experience. What is more important to me is can you get me to improve my
intake of information, improve my communication of information and so
forth.

-- dave