The open ontology and information society

Abstract

Information, as the most elusive subject, is central to all forms of thought, governance, economic structure, science, and society. Regulation of information, especially within the healthcare field, is proving to be a difficult task globally, given the lack of a qualitative framework and understanding of the concept and properties of information (or data) itself. The presentation of the overall qualitative framework, comprising a qualitative analysis of information, data, and knowledge, will be valuable and of great assistance in delineating regulatory, ethical, and strategic trajectories. In addition, this framework provides insights (and answers) regarding (1) data privacy and protection; (2) delineations between information, data, and knowledge based on the important notion of trust; (3) a structured approach to establishing the necessary conditions for an open society and system, and the maintenance of said openness, based on the work of Karl Popper and Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel; (4) an active agent approach that promotes autonomy and freedom and protects the open society; and (5) a data governance mechanism based on the work of Friedrich Hayek, which structures the current legal–ethical–financial and social society. This is insightful for questions relating to the extent of rights and duties, the extent of biological bodies and freedom, and the structure of relations in distributed networked systems. There is great value offered in this framework; furthermore, it provides critical insights and thoughts about (and uncovers the interplay between) academic culture, politics, science, society, and societal decay. Note that, in line with the ideas expressed in this manuscript, such as incorporation of personal experience (thereby mending the Kantian and Cartesian gap), a first-person perspective will be used, where relevant.

Open optimism as an “embodied-health” ethic for the information era

“…Observers are to be construed as entities capable of assembling information about events ( Naidoo, 2023a; see “Topology and spacetime” of Supplementary Material ). Observers can use this information to construct physical models, which can be used to infer properties of future events.…”

“…This accords with the QBism ( Naidoo, 2023e ) interpretation of quantum mechanics, whereby quantum states (as a navigational tool) are interlinked with subjective beliefs regarding the outcomes of experiments ( Caves et al, 2002 ). This thus involves an inherent interlinking with a (subjective) Bayesian (and surprise-oriented) approach to probability ( Naidoo, 2023a ; Naidoo, 2023f ). Bayesian probabilistic inferential reasoning is a highly accredited theory regarding human reasoning in the cognitive and sensory domains ( Pouget et al, 2013 ).…”

“…Events can be described as measurements that are performed by observers. In other words, events are only as such, when they are inscribed into the registers of subjects, as observers ( Naidoo, 2023a ). The nature of this registration thus depends on how, or the type of rationalization/explanatory theory/interpretation, the subject affords to the event.…”

“…This accords with Hegel’s assertion about the content hidden in the form ( Naidoo, 2023b ) (see “Content hidden in form” in Supplementary Material ). This hidden information is that of qualitative meta-degrees of meta-freedom, which amounts to the freedom to interpret and re-interpret ( Naidoo, 2023a ; Naidoo, 2023b ).…”

“…Intelligence, in terms of Hinton’s claim, is reflected by the linear movement of efficiency . Efficiency is the process of reducing the degrees of freedom and degrees of meta-freedom ( Naidoo, 2023a ). This movement creates linearity .…”