On Communication. An Interdisciplinary and Mathematical Approach

This book originated in the last four years when we were lecturing both in communication and computer science at the University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany. Therefore, it was rather obvious for us to integrate these two sci- tific disciplines and to analyze the problem of the general logic of communicative processes by the use of suited computer models and mathematical concepts. The result of these efforts is this book and it is up to the readers if our attempts are successful. We could never have finished this study without the enthusiastic interest of many students in both sciences. Several of them are named in the book who implemented specific computer programs as part of their respective MA-thesis. We have also to thank several colleagues in communication and computer science, who supported our work in many ways. We frequently experienced that the old and venerable paradigm of especially the German University "the unity of research and teaching" (Humboldt) is far from dead and can be updated any time, provided a suited research project. Our special thanks go to Jörn Schmidt from the former Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Higher Education at our University, whose constant help was invaluable to us. Each new scientific approach is only possible because it stands, to quote Newton, on the shoulders of giants. Therefore, we dedicate this book in memoriam to two great pioneers in communication science, namely Claude E. Shannon and Gerold Ungeheuer.

Radical new theoretical approach Topic is of great interest to scholars in different scientific disciplines Use of computer models new in this field, i.e. Soft Computing models Empirical validation of computer models and prognostication of communicative processes unifying theory of communication

Klappentext

This book offers a radical new approach for the understanding of communication. By using the theoretical framework of complex systems theory communication is defined as the interplay of social and cognitive dynamics: communicators are modelled as complex cognitive systems who interact according to social rules and generate communicative systems. Messages generate meaning, which is understood as an attractor in the cognitive system of the receiver. Information is measured via the difference between a factual message and the message expected by the receiver.

These theoretical definitions are operationalized by the application of certain computer programs, namely Soft Computing programs like cellular automata and artificial neural nets. In many examples the authors demonstrate how it is possible to model and analyze communicative processes, i.e. social combined with cognitive ones. The computational models are validated by social experiments that show how communicative complexity can be simulated and in some parts prognosticated. The considerations of the book are finally systematized by general equations of communication.

The book refers to readers of different disciplines like communications science, social sciences, cognitive sciences and computer science. Yet no special knowledge in these sciences and/or mathematics is presupposed. Scholars of these sciences and graduate students should have no principal difficulties with the text.

Inhalt
Introduction: Communication problems of a concept and a new methodical approach.- Excursion into complex systems theory.- Meaning and Information: the semantic dimension of communication.- The social dimension of communication.- The cognitive dimension of communication.- The general equations of communicative processes.- Examples: Computer Models as Operationalization.- Epilogue: The Mathematical Conditions of Human Cognition and Communication.