Luciano Floridi - "Notes to Myself"

In the foreword, Luciano Floridi explains the origins of the book, which emerged from a collection of personal “Notes to Myself”. Friends and colleagues encouraged him to organize these notes into a more structured and accessible format. The goal was to make them easier to read and share, as well as to create a physical collection of these reflections, some of which he could give away as gifts. The result is this book—a compilation of thoughtful entries.

The notes can also be accessed online, free of charge, as they continue to be published there. Floridi shares that the inspiration behind this project stems from the reactivation of his blog. Originally started in 2006 to discuss topics related to the philosophy of information, the blog was discontinued in 2010 as it no longer served its intended role. In 2020, he felt the renewed need to record some of his thoughts in written form and describe them metaphorically as “securing them with a rubber band.” With a new purpose, he revived the blog as a platform to house these occasional, and often random, personal reflections.

Differences Between Blog and Book

The content of the book retains the essence of his blog posts, but with significant refinements. Floridi removed typos, clarified sentences, streamlined titles, and eliminated pictures. He also reorganized the notes into thematic categories, in contrast to their chronological order in the blog. While this restructuring improves the presentation, the core content remains essentially unchanged.

The Purpose of the Notes

Floridi emphasizes that these notes were written primarily for himself, not with the intention to teach or advise others. He likens them to “sinopia”, which refers to the preparatory sketches made for Renaissance frescoes—a kind of rough mental scaffolding for more elaborate thoughts. These notes reflect his personal journey of refining and nurturing his ideas, making them more like a personal exercise in self-expression and thought organization.

Closing Message

In sharing these notes, Floridi invites readers into his reflective process, but without the expectation that the notes serve as lessons or doctrines. Instead, they are meant to document the raw, formative stages of his thinking, offering a glimpse into his intellectual exploration. The tone is humble and personal, underscoring that these reflections were never intended to deliver universal truths but are rather a conversation with himself.