A New Approach to Computing Using Informon s and Holons: Towards a Theory of Computing Science
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A New Approach to Computing Using Informons and Holons: Towards a Theory of Computing Science F. David de la Peña1 · Juan A. Lara1 · David Lizcano1 · María Aurora Martínez1 · Juan Pazos1
© Springer Nature B.V. 2019
Abstract The state of computing science and, particularly, software engineering and knowledge engineering is generally considered immature. The best starting point for achieving a mature engineering discipline is a solid scientific theory, and the primary reason behind the immaturity in these fields is precisely that computing science still has no such agreed upon underlying theory. As theories in other fields of science do, this paper formally establishes the fundamental elements and postulates making up a first attempt at a theory in this field, considering the features and peculiarities of computing science. The fundamental elements of this approach are informons and holons, and it is a general and comprehensive theory of software engineering and knowledge engineering that related disciplines (e.g., information systems) can particularise and/or extend to take benefit from it (Lakatos’ concepts of core theory and protective belt theories). Keywords Computing science theory · Holarchy · Holons · Informons · Postulates
1 Introduction In the same way a ship is a product of engineering (marine), which is a result of the practical and engineering application of several science fields (e.g. Hydrostatics), a software system for example a (management) information system is a product of one or several engineering fields that emanate from different science fields. Following with the example one of the relevant science fields for the informations system discipline is the computer science, which has long been contributor to the foundations of such discipline (Gregor 2006). However paradoxically, computer science is excluded form studies like the one presented in Gregor (2006), which addresses the structural nature of theory in information systems. The reason is most likely, due to the fact that computer science does not have the basic characteristic that is proper to a science—a supporting scientific theory—and therefore its consideration would suppose little contribution to works as above, whose motivation * María Aurora Martínez [email protected] 1
Escuela de Ciencias Técnicas e Ingeniería, Madrid Open University, UDIMA, Ctra. De la Coruña, km 38.500 – Vía de Servicio, 15, 28400 Collado Villalba, Madrid, Spain
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in information systems discipline, that is also considered immature in the same way by the lack of a supporting scientific theory (cf. e.g., Fitzgerald and Adam 1996; Moody and Buist 1999), analogous to the one that drives this paper. In the terms of Lakatos (1970), the principal objective to avoid this lack of scientific theory should be create core theories (representing the unquestioned assumptions which all researchers adhere to) in such a way that a bidirectional bridge between disciplines is established as researchers could come
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