Pragmatic information, as interpreted by Roederer, is a concept that treats information and information processing as exclusive attributes of biological systems tied to the definition of life itself. This paper argues that this notion can serve as a unifying concept for a future science of information. The author applies pragmatic information to four areas: proposing an ontology for quantum mechanics based on a modified Bohmian interpretation that meets all conditions of pragmatic information; distinguishing natural living systems from artifacts and non-living systems, thereby arguing against Strong Artificial Intelligence; updating Chalmers's Double-aspect Theory of Information to better explain its physical aspect; and offering a new account of causation that differentiates biological causation from causation in the abiotic natural world.
Phenomenal consciousness (basic awareness and experience) applies to all living things, while access consciousness (a conceptual, verbal form used for reasoning and rational decision-making) is uniquely human. This contradicts Block's view that access consciousness also exists in some non-human organisms. The argument relies on Logan's claim that only humans possess verbal language and therefore the ability to conceptualize, which enables reasoning and rationality. Human consciousness thus combines percept-based phenomenal consciousness with concept-based access consciousness.