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The acquisition of information can be considered as an approach to the definite. The investigation of the various manifestations of indefiniteness which we presented in Chap.  2 showed that they can be divided into two groups. The elements of the first group describe our lack of knowledge, i.e. they appear arbitrary, uncertain and indeterminate. The elements of the second group demonstrate our inability to comprehend; they are vague, blurred and undefined. In order to eliminate the indefiniteness of the first group, we need more knowledge, more information. The present chapter thus takes up the theory of information. When is the average information content of two signs maximal? How can a not-yet-determined text be classified with the help of information theory? I will discuss how a 'system" can react in a flexible manner to the indefiniteness of its environment, by extracting information from its surroundings and thus increasing its internal complexity. Ecology offers many examples of this, e.g. a pond full of organisms whose life histories are determined by the sun, the air and possibly by inflows to the pond. It is important to pin down the flow of energy and materials. Energy once used by the ecosystem is converted into heat, and in this degraded form can no longer sustain life processes. The one-way flow of energy and the circulation of materials are two principles of general ecology.

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-18509-5_3

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