The "Informational Turn in Philosophy"

• Grant number: 11/15601-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: March 01, 2012
• End date: August 31, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Philosophy - Epistemology
• Principal Investigator: Maria Eunice Quilici Gonzalez
• Grantee: João Antonio de Moraes
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia e Ciências (FFC). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Marília. Marília , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 10/52627-9 - Sistemics, self-organization and information, AP.TEM

Abstract

The aim of this work is to investigate problems related to the "Informational Turn in Philosophy", with special emphasis on ethical implications. We start from the hypothesis that philosophical research could follow new avenues, using the concept of information to address classical questions such as "What is the nature of mind?" or "What is knowledge?". In the same vein, the so-called "Informational Turning" influences society; examples include the incorporation of information technology into daily life (cellular telephones, notebook computers etc.), which can lead to new patterns of conduct and potentially to new difficulties. These impacts, in the realms of both scientific-philosophical investigation and society, have led to the emergence of a new area of investigation in Philosophy called Information Ethics (Floridi, 2005, 2008, 2009; Capurro, 2006, 2010; Ess, 2006, 2008; Brey, 2007; Himma, 2008). This involves reflection on ethical issues related to the impact of information technology on daily life. Here, we will focus our attention on informational privacy. Privacy is analyzed from the perspective of the amount of information available about an individual, from which one can infer the degree of autonomy that he/she possesses in relation to his/her personal information. An individual's level of privacy is influenced by the development of new information technologies that increase his/her interaction with the (natural or virtual) environment (Floridi, 2006). The central objective of this work is, therefore, to analyze issues related to privacy, from the perspective of the "Informational Turn in Philosophy". To this end, we shall first investigate the main characteristics of this "Information Turn". We shall then explore central themes of Information Ethics, in order to try to explain the notion of privacy. We argue that an analysis of ethical issues from the standpoint of Information Ethics can contribute to an understanding of the new directions that philosophical research will take in the "Information Society".

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

MORAES, João Antonio de. Implicações éticas da virada informacional na Filosofia. 2012. Master's Dissertation - Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp). Faculdade de Filosofia e Ciências. Marília Marília.