The Ageing of Information: From Particular to Particulate

Citation: Paul Duguid (2015-07-03) The Ageing of Information: From Particular to Particulate. Journal of the History of Ideas (RSS)
DOI (original publisher): 10.1353/jhi.2015.0020
Semantic Scholar (metadata): 10.1353/jhi.2015.0020
Sci-Hub (fulltext): 10.1353/jhi.2015.0020
Internet Archive Scholar (search for fulltext): The Ageing of Information: From Particular to Particulate
Download: http://courses.ischool.berkeley.edu/i218/s15/Ageing.3.2.pdf
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Summary

Describes use of the word "information" from a response to receiving and understanding information (synonymous with education, as used by Locke) to information as external facts to be recorded and communicated. Notes 18th-19th century political optimism about information -- all that is needed is broad access to information -- to skepticism -- misinformation, overload, etc.

Quote:

It is perhaps because it was so unassuming that it became so useful. Then as now, it worked in tandem with knowledge yet escaped as a generally unindicted co-conspirator. Information allowed arguments to bypass epistemological angst and drive over philosophical conundrums with chassis unaffected. Nonetheless, as "information" moved out of the head and into the world, and thus from the mental response of the mind's encounter with the world to include the stimuli of that response, attendant causal assumptions raised hopes about how the mind's responses might be foretold and, in consequence, how society could be predictably reformed, the past surpassed and the future assured. Hence, though still self-effacing, by Knox's day information appeared almost self-sufficient in its ability to transform both minds and mankind. Yet, as we trace its rising allure, we will see simultaneous disenchantment as the mid-century trope that you "could not have too much information" gave way to the uneasy sense that you could or that you needed other things as well or instead. Where Knox's usage of information became standard, his Spirit of Despotism's optimism in the concept's efficacy did not.

Theoretical and Practical Relevance

Blog post by author http://jhiblog.org/2015/08/17/when-was-the-age-of-information/