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Work #746 · Mid

A Mathematical Theory of Communication

Claude Shannon
1948 (Bell System Technical Journal) · English
Mathematical-engineering paper · Mid-twentieth-century information theory / electrical engineering

Shannon's 1948 founding paper of information theory — entropy, channel capacity, the bit

Attribute Fingerprint

Rows where works disagree are highlighted in gold. The full ontology grid is shown.

Attribute A Mathematical Theory of Communication (Mid)
Time · Extent Infinite
Time · Ontological Status Substantival
Time · Grain Discrete
Time · Freedom Deterministic
Time · Traversability Linear
Time · Dimensionality One
Time · Direction Uni-directional
Space · Extent Infinite
Space · Ontological Status Substantival
Space · Curvature Flat
Space · Dimensionality Three
Space · Locality Local
Matter · Extent Infinite
Matter · Ontological Status Substantival
Matter · Conservation Conserved
Matter · Dimensionality Three
Matter · Locality Local
Observer · Time Instance Single
Observer · Space Instance Single
Observer · Knowledge Extent Partial
Observer · Knowledge Retainment Total
Observer · Physicality Embodied
Observer · Agency Both
Observer · Number Plural
Observer · Metaphysical Agency None
Observer · Moral Authority Reason
Observer · Theological Method
Energy · Extent Infinite
Energy · Ontological Status Substantival
Energy · Conservation Conserved
Energy · Dispersibility Irreversible
Information · Ontological Status Substantival
Information · Cosmic Conservation Conserved
Information · Personal Conservation Conserved
Information · Granularity Discrete

Dimension-by-Dimension Evidence

What each work's passages reveal about its stance on each of the six dimensions.

Time

A Mathematical Theory of Communication

The discrete time of signal transmission.

Space

A Mathematical Theory of Communication

The communication channel.

Matter

A Mathematical Theory of Communication

The physical channel and signals.

Observer

A Mathematical Theory of Communication

The sender and receiver of messages.

Energy

A Mathematical Theory of Communication

Energies of signal transmission.

Information

A Mathematical Theory of Communication

Information as quantified uncertainty (Shannon entropy).

Internal Tensions

Where each work's argument pulls against itself.

A Mathematical Theory of Communication

Shannon's 1948 paper: foundational for the information age; rapidly extended to physics (statistical mechanics), biology (Watson-Crick), and philosophy of information (Floridi).