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Splendidly pellucid. (Steven Poole, The Guardian )
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We live an information-soaked existence - information pours into our lives through television, radio, books, and of course, the Internet. Some say we suffer from 'infoglut'. But what is information? The concept of 'information' is a profound one, rooted in mathematics, central to whole branches of science, yet with implications on every aspect of our everyday lives: DNA provides the information to create us; we learn through the information fed to us; we relate to each other through information transfer - gossip, lectures, reading. Information is not only a mathematically powerful concept, but its critical role in society raises wider ethical issues: who owns information? Who controls its dissemination? Who has access to information? Luciano Floridi, a philosopher of information, cuts across many subjects, from a brief look at the mathematical roots of information - its definition and measurement in 'bits'- to its role in genetics (we are information), and its social meaning and value. He ends by considering the ethics of information, including issues of ownership, privacy, and accessibility; copyright and open source. For those unfamiliar with its precise meaning and wide applicability as a philosophical concept, 'information' may seem a bland or mundane topic. Those who have studied some science or philosophy or sociology will already be aware of its centrality and richness. But for all readers, whether from the humanities or sciences, Floridi gives a fascinating and inspirational introduction to this most fundamental of ideas.
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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Sat in a small office for a seminar on modal logic, my then logic tutor told me that "if you read something once and do not understand, it is your fault. If you read something twice and do not understand, it is the authors fault". This is something to be kept in mind when reading this book.
The title should not fool the reader. This is not "Information for Dummies". The book can be technical and difficult requiring occasional reflective breaks. Unlike some of the other VSI series, to understand the book properly will take more than three or four hours.
However, this is where Prof. Floridi comes into his own. Using many elegant metaphors, analogies and examples, Floridi provides some of the intuitive first steps required to understand what would be baffling concepts. My favourite metaphor is that used for understanding quantum superposition, whereby we are asked to think of a Escher painting. The use of a simple example (John and his blinking car battery light) pervades the book which helps the reader grasp the interconnectedness of the various uses of information, which may otherwise simply look like equivocations.
The philosophy in the book is distributed throughout, but culminates in the final two chapters. It is somewhat a shame that more of the philosophy of information and information could not be covered, but then 1. The book would not be a short introduction and 2. The book would not be a way into the subject but on the subject. I find some of Floridi's ethical moves profound and others a little harder to swallow, not because they are implausible, but because they are novel enough to invoke at least some scepticism.
Information: A Very Short Introduction is not an easy book, but an extremely rewarding one if you are at least willing to blame yourself for not understanding everything the first time your eyes glean the text.
The title should not fool the reader. This is not "Information for Dummies". The book can be technical and difficult requiring occasional reflective breaks. Unlike some of the other VSI series, to understand the book properly will take more than three or four hours.
However, this is where Prof. Floridi comes into his own. Using many elegant metaphors, analogies and examples, Floridi provides some of the intuitive first steps required to understand what would be baffling concepts. My favourite metaphor is that used for understanding quantum superposition, whereby we are asked to think of a Escher painting. The use of a simple example (John and his blinking car battery light) pervades the book which helps the reader grasp the interconnectedness of the various uses of information, which may otherwise simply look like equivocations.
The philosophy in the book is distributed throughout, but culminates in the final two chapters. It is somewhat a shame that more of the philosophy of information and information could not be covered, but then 1. The book would not be a short introduction and 2. The book would not be a way into the subject but on the subject. I find some of Floridi's ethical moves profound and others a little harder to swallow, not because they are implausible, but because they are novel enough to invoke at least some scepticism.
Information: A Very Short Introduction is not an easy book, but an extremely rewarding one if you are at least willing to blame yourself for not understanding everything the first time your eyes glean the text.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
My background is in telecommunications and information management. I found this book very useful to update me on the various perspectives of "information". Generally the book is clear and concise. It certainly gives a wide overview of what is probably the most important resource in our complex world.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Floridi has carved out a niche in philosophy which is so relevant to the modern age that it is a wonder more are not jostling for position here. In this little book (fits easily in the pocket!) he gives a broad ranging but very concise introduction to almost all the aspects of 'information' that I can think of. The writing style he uses is professional but very approachable - easy to follow but not at all condescending. Those not familiar with the academic study of information itself will find this book a real eye-opener. Those who have some prior knowledge will enjoy the high standard of clarity and precision of definitions presented in a very readable style and might take inspiration from the examples given to illustrate various points. For the price I would recommend this book to almost anyone.
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