The Etymology of Information

The word information has had a profound effect in the thinking world of philosophy and science. We tend to use it so casually that it's easy to overlook the fact that it's not clear what it actually means. But because information has been offered as the very ontological basis of existence, this word isn't something we want to throw around without thorough understanding.

The OED states that information is "The shaping of the mind or character; communication of instructive knowledge; education, training;" and "Knowledge communicated concerning some particular fact, subject, or event; that of which one is apprised or told; intelligence, news." But what then is knowledge? We'll get away from this cyclical definition soon, but let us first consider the etymology of the word as well. Here's what etymonline.com has to say about it:

late 14c., informacion, "act of informing, communication of news," from Old French informacion, enformacion "advice, instruction," from Latin informationem (nominative informatio) "outline, concept, idea," noun of action from past participle stem of informare "to train, instruct, educate; shape, give form to" (see inform). The restored Latin spelling is from 16c.

Meaning "knowledge communicated concerning a particular topic" is from mid-15c. The word was used in reference to television broadcast signals from 1937; to punch-card operating systems from 1944; to DNA from 1953. Information theory is from 1950; information technology is from 1958 (coined in "Harvard Business Review"); information revolution, to be brought about by advances in computing, is from 1966. Information overload is by 1967.

Wiktionary.org breaks information into in + form + ation. The prefix in- means "into" while -ation is an old Latin suffix used to form action nouns from verbs. The root forma means "form" but has unknown origins, though some try to connect it with Greek μορφή (morphe), while others say it might be related to Etruscan *morma with *m-m > *f-m via dissimilation.

With all of this in mind, what we have is a word that means to instill form or give shape to something in some way. We're taking something that was unfamiliar and giving it a reckognizable shape. This is very much a vague, metaphorical word then, and we need a description that can take us a step further in conceptualizing the idea of information.

Here, I dare to replace the vague "form" metaphor with something a bit more detailed and recognizable. What we have is a concept of communicating data/facts that enables one either to create a property-bearing mental object or to enrich a preexisting mental object with new descriptive properties. This gives rise to enhanced (via complexity and/or intensity) levels of experience regarding a given idea. For example, a car engine for many is just the activating component of a car that makes it run and not much more. One then can add information to that mental object (car engine) to enrich their understanding of it, whether it's for practical purposes like engine maintenance and repair or simply for the sake of appreciation. Rather than just 'engine' maybe now we know about some of its properties such as the engine block, pistons, cylinder head, and crank shaft. Instead of having a vague notion of this essential car component, we develop an advanced understanding, which comes with potential benefits.

That being said, information represents the properties associated with a mental object that complexify and intensify our experience of that object. It is the endless endeavor to escape the fallacy of misplaced concreteness. Find the ideas that bring you bliss. Complexify and intensify them with new information. Explore to the edges of the horizon, and share your findings when you can.