Teaching information retrieval (IR) as a philosophical problem

This paper discusses a method of teaching IR within the context of the philosophical problem of meaning to a mixed discipline undergraduate class. It introduces the distinction between content and context in meaning and the respective roles they play in the effective communication between an IR system and an IR user. It shows how teaching IR as a problem of meaning and interpretation can provide a conceptual framework in which students can effectively learn about both the social context in which IR operates and technical approaches to meaning representation.