Offline and online data: on upgrading functional information to knowledge

Abstract

This paper addresses the problem of upgrading functional information to knowledge. Functional information is defined as syntactically wellformed, meaningful and collectively opaque data. Its use in the formal epistemology of information theories is crucial to solve the debate on the veridical nature of information, and it represents the companion notion to standard strongly semantic information, defined as well-formed, meaningful and true data. The formal framework, on which the definitions are based, uses a contextual version of the verificationist principle of truth in order to connect functional to semantic information, avoiding Gettierization and decoupling from true informational contents. The upgrade operation from functional information uses the machinery of epistemic modalities in order to add data localization and accessibility as its main properties. We show in this way the conceptual worthiness of this notion for issues in contemporary epistemology debates, such as the explanation of knowledge process acquisition from information retrieval systems, and open data repositories.

Algorithms and Their Explanations

“…As we have seen, this kind of knowledge can be adequately represented in what Primiero [15] calls functional information. Also, it should be clear that almost no creativity is involved here, and so at this rather low level of abstraction programmers are not exploiting the artistic possibilities inside the act of programmingsee Gobbo and Benini [11].…”

“…Chapter 10 of Floridi [8] solves this problem by giving two different logics at the basis of the states above (see also Allo [3,1]) while Primiero [15] analyses the special case of information locally valid, i.e., when functional information is in charge. Functional information, commonly used in information sciences, particularly in software engineering, entails realisable instructions to obtain reliable data not yet available.…”

An Illustrated Introduction to the Infosphere

“…For a knower is "the man who knows how to ask and answer questions" (Plato, Cratylus), giving an account, that is, about the information that he holds. (p. 93) Although this account of knowledge as "upgraded" information of shared perceptions and testimonies within a social network of "cognitive amphibians" over time is clearly still a subject of much philosophical debate (Allo, 2014;Harnad, 2011;Piazza, 2010;Primiero, 2013), it also serves to connect the philosophy of information to some of the most central concepts and concerns of LIS. The next section will now turn to some of PI's possible applications within library and information studies.…”

A Taxonomy of Errors for Information Systems

“…3 For the logic of becoming informed that applies at the instructional level of states, see [22] and [23]. 4 For the logic of being informed that applies at the level of goals, see [11].…”