Information and knowledge. A constructive type-theoretical approach (Q2464131)

Intellectual activity hinges on a hierarchy of four categories: (1) data, (2) information, (3) knowledge, and (4) wisdom/creativity. This interesting monograph explores philosophical relations between the middle two categories, using the constructive theory of types as a logical tool for explication. In the process, the author develops a comprehensive logico-philosophical interpretation of the notion of ``information'', mostly compatible with Shannon's technical approach. As a bonus, the author's approach provides a preliminary basis for measuring the complexity of epistemic problems and epistemic theories, so that appropriate philosophical tools (e.g., with sufficient logical ``power'') can be used to understand/settle the problem or theory. Further, the author's approach provides a preliminary basis for measuring, e.g., the effectiveness of Internet, among other enterprises. Thus recall that Internet moves: (1) vast quantities of data, rapidly; (2) far less information than data; and (3) far less knowledge than information. Indeed, the role of Internet in the transfer of wisdom is mostly unknown (but unlikely). The reviewer's only major complaint with the book is that the References need to be reworked. E.g., Shannon's book should be dated 1949, not 1952. Perhaps that is why (p.~109) the author believes that Shannon was ``inspired'' by Wiener, whose 1948 book on Cybernetics is not referenced. Shannon, who reviewed Wiener's book for the Institute of Radio Engineers, was inspired by serious and difficult problems of telephony and other technical communications as well as probabilistic methods of proof. Additional value would accrue to this useful book, if the author would address the computational complexity of the constructive type-theoretic approach and, thus, make its applications clearer as well as the amount of resources required for those applications.