The information society as an exaptive dynamic system

In this article, we conceptualize the information society as an exaptive dynamic system by integrating evolutionary systems theory and information philosophy. Exaptation, defined as the repurposing of elements evolved for one function to serve entirely different roles, provides critical insights into the unique evolutionary patterns of contemporary society. While existing theoretical frameworks have described modern social formations as information society, network society, or post-industrial society, these approaches often treat information merely as content or resource, rather than as an evolving ontological entity. By synthesizing Floridi’s information philosophy with Wong et al.’s evolutionary selection framework, we demonstrate how the information society evolves through three interconnected mechanisms: static persistence (stability of foundational elements), dynamic persistence (functional adaptation), and exaptation (creative repurposing of existing elements to generate novel functions). In digital environments, this exaptive process accelerates significantly, prompting the introduction of the concept of free-floating functions—informational patterns that rapidly decouple from their original contexts to serve diverse purposes with minimal material reconfiguration. The transformation of information from an auxiliary element supporting other processes to an independent economic entity exemplifies this exaptive dynamic, reshaping social structures and simultaneously generating new opportunities and vulnerabilities.