Theory and Metatheory in the Nature of Information: Review and Thematic Analysis

This paper addresses the nature of information through a thematic review of the literature. The nature of information describes its fundamental qualities, including structure, meaning, content and use. This paper reviews the critical and theoretical literature with the aim of defining the boundaries of a foundational theory of information. The paper is divided into three parts. The first part addresses metatheoretical aspects of the discourse, including the historicity of information, its conceptual ambiguity, the problem of definition, and the possibility of a foundational theory. The second part addresses key dimension of the critical discourse, including the subjective, objective and intersubjective nature of information, its relationship to meaning, and its relationship to the material world. The final part summarises the main conclusion and outlines the scope of a foundational theory. This paper highlights important gaps in the critical tradition, including the historicity of information, and in its relationship to material reality, complexity and computation. This paper differs from prior reviews in its thematic focus and consideration of metatheoretical aspects of the critical and theoretical tradition.