ABSTRACT

Author's Note: The purpose of this paper is to challenge the active practitioners and participants in the field of information foundational and application studies, rather than being a standard academic paper. The observations and suggestions presented here are my own, and do not necessarily represent any organization. My duty as its author is to present some candid observations and suggestions to those actively involved in developing a new science of information. Proposed Perspective:I am suggesting a new information paradigm, a change in focus and activities, from traditional studies in information science, semiotics, computer science, artificial intelligence, social information sciences, informatics, etc., into a new, more broadly coordinated meta-discipline and professional domain. The focus of this domain will be to assist in redirecting our currently material-centered culture towards a new, softer, more responsive, and more adaptable Information-Centered Culture. We must AbstractThis paper suggests a new information paradigm and recommends the establishment of a new academic and scientific discipline, or a metaphysics of information, to be built on the premise that information is also a part of all the universes, elements, systems, and conditions. Therefore, it is also an integral part of all the other individual disciplines and sciences. It is essential to look beyond the limitations of how humans use and perceive information, or even how other living organisms use information. It is proposed that information is in a continuous and dynamic evolutionary process that ranges from simple to complex forms, at every level, across all scientific and academic domains, as well as being a significant element in everything that exists.Information is a trigger mechanism, an emphasis and a nutrient, not only for information activities, but also all physical, and biological elements, systems and activities. Each existing discipline has within it a significant core informational element, which helps formulate and define that discipline. The science of information will bring together core science and academic information elements to correlate, compare and assemble a combined theoretical base. This new discipline should coexist equally with traditional scientific and academic categories such as physical, social science, arts, and humanities. It should not compete with or replace other disciplines but should stand alongside them and assist them to build comparisons and consolidations amongst

Keywords: Science of Information, Physical Sciences, Information Science, Transdisciplinary, Meta discipline, and New Academic Discipline Acknowledgement: I want to thank Professor Kang Oyang and Professor E. Zin Zhong for hosting this important fourth FIS conference on the Foundations of Information Science, and Professor Zong-Rong Li for all his work in making the conference a success. The Science of Information Institute is very pleased to be a co-sponsor. As the Executive Director of the Institute, I can say on behalf of our Board of Directors and Scientific Advisory Committee -headed by Wolfgang Hofkirchner -that we look forward to continued productive discussions and concrete outcomes. I appreciate that so many young people have joined us at this conference. We dedicate our work to them and their future. The Science of Information is a Science of and for this new age.

No abstract

Keywords: Science of Information, Physical Sciences, Information Science, Transdisciplinary, Meta discipline, and New Academic Discipline Acknowledgement: I want to thank Professor Kang Oyang and Professor E. Zin Zhong for hosting this important fourth FIS conference on the Foundations of Information Science, and Professor Zong-Rong Li for all his work in making the conference a success. The Science of Information Institute is very pleased to be a co-sponsor. As the Executive Director of the Institute, I can say on behalf of our Board of Directors and Scientific Advisory Committee -headed by Wolfgang Hofkirchner -that we look forward to continued productive discussions and concrete outcomes. I appreciate that so many young people have joined us at this conference. We dedicate our work to them and their future. The Science of Information is a Science of and for this new age.