Epistemology & Cognition Lab

Prof. Nir Fresco

Functional Information

a Graded Taxonomy of Difference Makers

Nir Fresco, Simona Ginsburg, Eva Jablonka

There are many different notions of information in logic, epistemology, psychology, biology and cognitive science, which are employed differently in each discipline, often with little overlap. Since our interest here is in biological processes and organisms, we develop a taxonomy of functional information that extends the standard cue/signal distinction (in animal communication theory). Three general, main claims are advanced here. (1) This new taxonomy can be useful in describing learning and communication. (2) It avoids some problems that the natural/non-natural information distinction faces. (3) Functional information is​ ​produced through exploration and stabilisation processes.

Publication language English
Pages 547-567
Journal Review of Philosophy and Psychology
Volume 11
Issue number 3
Publication status Published - 01.09.2020

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
Philosophy
Access to Document
10.1007/s13164-018-0410-7
Other files and links
Link to publication in Scopus