Information and self-organization

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The widespread interest among professors, scientists, and students in various fields has necessitated a new edition of this work. This edition introduces three new chapters on recent developments in cognitive science, a fascinating interdisciplinary field that intersects mathematics, physics, computer science, and psychology. A key concept linking these disciplines is information, which appears in different forms, such as Shannon information and semantic information. While Shannon information has often been viewed as devoid of meaning, semantic information emphasizes meaning's central role. The new chapter 13 explores the interplay between Shannon and semantic information, highlighting how semantic information is crucial for understanding and reducing Shannon information in cognitive processes. Additionally, the rapidly evolving fields of quantum information and quantum computation are now included, reflecting their importance in contemporary discussions of information. It is increasingly clear that the abstract concept of information is deeply connected to its physical realizations, making these topics essential for any modern exploration of information theory.