In information science, writing, printing, telecommunication, and digital computing have been central concerns because of their ability to distribute information. Overlooked is the obvious fact that these technologies fashion copies, and the theorizing of copies has been neglected. We may think a copy is the same as what it copies, but no two objects can really be the same. “The same” means similar enough as an acceptable substitute for some purpose. The differences between usefully similar things are also often important, in forensic analysis, for example, or inferential processes. Status as a copy is only one form of relationship between objects, but copies are so integral to information science that they demand a theory. Indeed, theorizing copies provides a basis for a more complete and unified view of information science.

中文翻译：

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复制理论

在信息科学中，写作、印刷、电信和数字计算因其分发信息的能力而成为核心问题。忽略了一个明显的事实，即这些技术塑造了复制品，而复制品的理论化也被忽视了。我们可能认为一个副本与它所复制的相同，但没有两个对象真的是相同的。“相同”意味着足够相似，可以作为某种目的的可接受替代品。有用的相似事物之间的差异通常也很重要，例如，在取证分析或推理过程中。作为副本的状态只是对象之间关系的一种形式，但副本对于信息科学是如此不可或缺，以至于它们需要一种理论。事实上，理论化的副本为更完整和统一的信息科学观点提供了基础。