Jane Austen's concept of information
(As opposed to Claude Shannon's)

A partial index of discussion notes is in http://www.cs.bham.ac.uk/research/projects/cogaff/misc/AREADME.html

Extracts From Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice
With thanks to Project Gutenburg:
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/1342/1342-h/1342-h.htm

She was a woman of mean understanding, little information, and
uncertain temper.

Catherine and Lydia had information for them of a different sort.

When this information was given, and they had all taken their
seats, Mr. Collins was at leisure to look around him and admire,...

You could not have met with a person more capable of giving you
certain information on that head than myself, for I have been
connected with his family in a particular manner from my infancy.

This information made Elizabeth smile, as she thought of poor Miss Bingley.

This information, however, startled Mrs. Bennet ...

She then read the first sentence aloud, which comprised the information
of their having just resolved to follow their brother to town directly,...

She resolved to give her the information herself, and therefore
charged Mr. Collins, when he returned to Longbourn to dinner, to
drop no hint of what had passed before any of the family.

...and though he begged leave to be positive as to the truth of his information,
he listened to all their impertinence with the most forbearing courtesy.

Mrs. Gardiner about this time reminded Elizabeth of her promise concerning
that gentleman, and required information; and Elizabeth had such to send
as might rather give contentment to her aunt than to herself.

Elizabeth loved absurdities, but she had known Sir William's too long. He could
tell her nothing new of the wonders of his presentation and knighthood; and his
civilities were worn out, like his information.

I was first made acquainted, by Sir William Lucas's accidental information,
that Bingley's attentions to your sister had given rise to a general
expectation of their marriage.

As to his real character, had information been in her power, she had
never felt a wish of inquiring.

... and at last she was referred for the truth of every particular to
Colonel Fitzwilliam himself-from whom she had previously received the
information of his near concern in all his cousin's affairs,

When he was gone, they were certain at least of receiving constant
information of what was going on,

Mr. Bennet had been to Epsom and Clapham, before his arrival, but without
gaining any satisfactory information....

Elizabeth was at no loss to understand from whence this deference to
her authority proceeded; but it was not in her power to give any
information of so satisfactory a nature as the compliment deserved.

Upon this information, they instantly passed through the hall once more...

She began now to comprehend that he was exactly the man who, in
disposition and talents, would most suit her. His understanding and
temper, though unlike her own, would have answered all her wishes.
It was an union that must have been to the advantage of both; by her
ease and liveliness, his mind might have been softened, his manners
improved; and from his judgement, information, and knowledge of the
world, she must have received benefit of greater importance.

And will you give yourself the trouble of carrying similar assurances
to his creditors in Meryton, of whom I shall subjoin a list according to his
information?

But to live in ignorance on such a point was impossible; or at least
it was impossible not to try for information.

but to her own more extensive information, he was the person to whom
the whole family were indebted

Darcy was delighted with their engagement; his friend had given him the
earliest information of it.

"Did you speak from your own observation," said she, "when you told him
that my sister loved him, or merely from my information last spring?"

Bingley looked at her so expressively, and shook hands with such warmth,
as left no doubt of his good information.

The joy which Miss Darcy expressed on receiving similar information,
was as sincere as her brother's in sending it.

Exercise for the reader:

What sorts of information-processing machinery can account for the phenomena she was interested in?

    What's information, for an organism or intelligent machine?
    How can a machine or organism mean?,

Maintained by Aaron Sloman
School of Computer Science
The University of Birmingham