An Evolutionary Approach in Information Systems Science

Abstract

This article is concerned with a layout of methodological apparatus revealing the logical transition of information theory from one kind to another, creating from the existing information theory (i.e., informal theory) (i) a near‐formal information‐theoretic axiomatic system and (ii) an information metatheory (only briefly sketched here). The most outstanding example manifesting such an evolution (“optimization”) in the methodology of natural sciences is the transition of mathematics to meta‐mathematics. The significance of this approach lies in defining the subject matter to be studied, as well as in explicating its feature, and possibly forecasting new ones. Based on this knowledge an attempt to reconstruct a known model of scientific evolution of S. Watanabe is made. The modification of this model is “case‐oriented,” i.e., it depends on the mentioned metatheoretical reasons. The evolution of the information systems science via such a dynamical tool as the metatheoretical approach is grounded most generally in the developed informal theory confronted with the human and social needs.