Signaling games: thought experiments and information systems

Within this paper we use the thought experiment of a signaling game to demonstrate how information can be seen to evolve as a complex, systemic accomplishment amongst a community of actors. An example from animal communication studies is first used to highlight the relevance of this thought experiment. We then unpack various ideas about the nature of information in terms of aspects of the signaling game. We also demonstrate the way in which this thought experiment helps clarify the relationship between information and that of agency, embodiment, intentionality and materiality. This leads us to demonstrate the application of the concept of a signaling game to a class of information system ubiquitous in the human sphere: that of an effective manual system