CYBERSEMIOTICS - A TRANSDISCIPLINARY FRAMEWORK FOR INFORMATION STUDIES

This paper summarizes recent attempts by this author to create a trans disciplinary, non-Cartesian and non-reductionistic framework for infor mation studies in natural, social, and technological systems. To confr ont, in a scientific way, the problems of modern information technolog y where phenomenological man is dealing with socially constructed text s in algorithmically based digital bit-machines we need a theoretical framework spanning from physics over biology and technological design to phenomenological and social production of signification and meaning . I am working with such pragmatic theories as second order cybernetic s (coupled with autopolesis theory), Lakoffs biologically oriented cog nitive semantics, Peirce's triadic semiotics, and Wittgenstein's pragm atic language game theory. A coherent synthesis of these theories is w hat the cybersemiotic framework attempts to accomplish. (C) 1998 Elsev ier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.