too much/not enough information

In reply to Karl's excellent post, I'd suggest an 'addendum'.

I don't think that we have to reject the linear method of interaction
with our environment. This is an 'external' method, which senses
external data only in its discrete isolation, and has only two tactics
to deal with such crisp data: (1) view it as a 'thing in itself' and (2)
collate these things in statistical aggregates. That gives you a
resultant interaction which is either, to use Karl's terms from the rat
experiments, sensory overstimulation or sensory deprivation.

My point is that there is also an internal realm, which is not linear
but akin to Karl's second outline. Here, the system deals with
sensual data which is within its own system. The stimuli is now
internalized. It cannot 'count' it because the stimuli has lost its
external discrete nature. The internal type of relation is therefore
one of relations between what one might call 'phases' or zones of
energy-concentrations/organizations. These relations between
these internalized energy-phases are coordinated by an internal
logic. This internal logic is the normative Laws of that species, or
society or..

BUT - we don't live within either the external serial method of
interaction or the internal networked method of interaction. We live
within both. Therefore a modern information science should not
reject either method but develop a science of information that
recognizes that all systems, both abiotic and biotic, deal with
information in a complex manner, using both external (serial) and
internal (networked) methods of interaction.

Regards,

Edwina Taborsky
Bishop's University Phone:(819)822.9600 Ext.2424
Lennoxville, Quebec Fax: (819)822.9661
Canada JIM 1Z7
Received on Tue Sep 24 14:00:56 2002