Information Studies Without Information

Abstract

In philosophy of language, the phenomena fundamental to human
\ncommunication are routinely modeled in ways that do not require commitment
\nto a concept of ???information??? separate from those of ???data,??? ???meaning,???
\n???communication,??? ???knowledge,??? and ???relevance??? (inter alia). A taxonomy
\nof conceptions of information may be developed that relies on
\ncommonly drawn philosophical distinctions (between linguistic, mental,
\nand physical entities, between objects and events, and between particulars
\nand universals); in such a taxonomy, no category requires the label ???information???
\nin order to be differentiated from others. It is suggested that a
\nconception of information-as-relevance is currently the most productive of
\nadvances in theoretical information studies.