The prevailing scientific method is one based on the elimination of final causes. For example, see here. However, such a philosophic view is abnormal and contrary to human nature. People do talk the talk and insist that students be indoctrinated with such philosophy, but, like Pyrrho or Hume, they can't really believe it, and they don't, unless they are crazy. This artificial state of affairs can't really continue. There's only so much anti-human, anti-commonsense philosophy that people will swallow before barfing.
In regards to information and messages, it is interesting how the scholastic doctrine of "substance" suddenly reappears. A message of pure gibberish with high informational entropy has no "substance" to it. A compressed message that does have decodable meaning may be indistinguishable from gibberish formally or materially, but it has "substance" to it. The substance is real, though only the mind can detect it. And that is exactly the scholastic doctrine on substance (and probably Aristotle's too.)
Excellent insight, ECO! Some "substantial" food for thought there....
Thank you so much for your excellent essay/post!