Information Flow: The Logic of Distributed Systems

by Jon Barwise, Jerry Seligman

Overview

Information is a central topic in computer science, cognitive science, and philosophy. In spite of its importance in the "information age," there is no consensus on what information is, what makes it possible, and what it means for one medium to carry information about another. Drawing on ideas from mathematics, computer science, and philosophy, this book addresses the definition and place of information in society. The authors, observing that information flow is possible only within a connected distribution system, provide a mathematically rigorous, philosophically sound foundation for a science of information. They illustrate their theory by applying it to a wide range of phenomena, from file transfer to DNA, from quantum mechanics to speech act theory.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521583862
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	07/28/1997
Series:	Cambridge Tracts in Theoretical Computer Science , #44
Pages:	292
Product dimensions:	6.18(w) x 9.33(h) x 0.87(d)

Table of Contents

Preface; Part I. Introduction: 1. Information flow: a review; 2. Information channels: an overview; 3. A simple distributed system; Part II. Channel Theory: 4. Classifications and infomorphisms; 5. Operations on classifications; 6. Distributed systems; 7. Boolean operations and classifications; 8. State spaces; 9. Regular theories; 10. Operations on theories; 11. Boolean operations and theories; 12. Local logics; 13. Reasoning at a distance; 14. Representing local logics; 15. Distributed logics; 16. Logics and state spaces; Part III. Explorations: 17. Speech acts; 18. Vagueness; 19. Common sense reasoning; 20. Representation; 21. Quantum logic; Answers to selected exercises; Bibliography; Glossary of notation; Index of definitions; Index of names.

Editorial Reviews

"This important interdisciplinary text is ideal for graduate students and researchers in mathematics, computer science, philosophy, linguistics, logic, and cognitive science." Computing Reviews

"This iis an enjoyable book on information flow, an important recent topic in the study of logic, language and computation, enriching the science of information by a mathematically rigorous foundation." Mathematical Reviews

"...two thumbs up...." Complexity

"...an important book...useful...inspiring...accessible to most graduate students in logic, computer science, philosophy, mathematics, linguistics, and cognitive science. Everyone working in those areas will find material of interest in the book." Journal of Symbolic Logic

From the Publisher