Informational entropy and moral agents. A 1984 reading of George Orwell from Luciano Floridi’s Ethics of information

Abstract

This article consists of an interpretation of the novel 1984 by George Orwell from the concepts of Ethics of Information by Luciano Floridi, who argues in favor of the role of the moral agent in relation to his contribution to the growth and strengthening of the informational environment of the Infosphere, but also recognizes that any action that negatively affects the Infosphere as a whole can increase the level of entropy. According to our research, in the informational ecosystem of Oceania society in 1984, the role of the moral agent is relevant, because a responsible and careful attitude about how to use informational objects (Winston’s diary, books, archives, the telescreen, Newspeak, speak-write, etc.), will bring about the prosperity of the informational environment and, therefore, will not cause entropy (the destruction or corruption of informational entities). However, as seen in 1984, the afore mentioned informational objects are subjected to manipulation mechanisms that increase entropy, with the sole purpose of controlling the way people act.