Toward a Generative Information Ecology

Information ecology does not yet possess a unified theoretical foundation; existing approaches provide diverse interpretations without a shared philosophical core. Taking Yixin Zhong's information ecology as a point of departure, this paper explores how information ecology can be transformed into a generative framework capable of serving as a general methodology for information studies. Zhong made a significant contribution by recognizing the philosophical potential of information ecology for transforming the paradigm of information science. However, his framework faces two fundamental limitations. First, his conception of "ecology" remains largely within the framework of systemic coordination among internal elements, without fully incorporating the relational generation and open-ended evolution emphasized by contemporary philosophical ecology. Second, his conception of "information" remains grounded in a representational and transformational framework, which does not sufficiently capture the generative and processual nature of information itself. This paper therefore argues that the concepts of "ecology" and "information" must be reconstructed within a unified philosophical framework. From a generative perspective, it first clarifies the ecological conditions of information systems through contemporary philosophical ecology, and then examines the generative mechanisms of information through process philosophy. On this basis, the paper develops a generative information ecology framework centered on relational generation, autopoiesis, and vectorial information, providing a philosophical foundation for understanding information as an evolving process rather than a static representation.