The Relationship between Autopoiesis Theory and Biosemiotics: On Philosophical Suppositions as Bases for a New Information Theory

  • Yohei Nishida
DOI: https://doi.org/10.31269/triplec.v9i2.295
Keywords: unified theory of Information, systems theory, autopoiesis theory, semiotics, biosemiotics, Cybersemiotics, Fundamental Informatics, views of life, epistemology, constructivism, meta-theoretical recursiveness

Abstract

This paper discusses methodological issues related to a possible framework for a unified theory of information. We concentrate on the relationship between systems theory and semiotics, or to put it more concretely, the relationship between autopoiesis theory and biosemiotics. These theories give rise to two decisive viewpoints on life that seem poten- tially contradictory and consequently provoke a fruitful controversy, which is conducive for the consideration of philosophical suppositions vital for a new information theory. The following three points are derived in the context of basic principles: epistemology rather than ontology, constructivism rather than metaphysics, meta-theoretical recursiveness rather than linear consistency.

Author Biography

Yohei Nishida
Yohei Nishida is currently working toward a Ph.D. in the Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Information Studies (GSII) at the University of Tokyo. His research field is informatics and theory of life, including systems theory and biosemiotics. He is especially inter- ested in the relationship between life and information.
Published
2011-10-30
Issue
Vol 9 No 2 (2011)
Section
Special Issue: Towards a New Science of Information

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