Low-tech social knowledge
May 20th, 2007 by David Weinberger
Since we’re all getting tired of hearing Wikipedia used as an example of this or that — although I’m sure you’ll find the discussion of Wikipedia in Everything Is Miscellaneous to be minty fresh! — here’s a reminder that before the estimable Wikipedia, we were making knowledge social using humbler forms.
Knowledge has always been social, even though our metaphysics has led us to say that knowledge is a type of belief, and thus is a mental state, and thus is something inside a head. If the belief is true and justified, then the mental state gets stamped with a big, official K, preferably in some gothic-teutonic font. If not, it gets marked with a red X and your soul loses 2 points (4 if it is an essay question). Something like that.
When Wikipedia works, however, (and I think it works remarkably well remarkably often), the knowledge it contains results from a social process. Expert opinion gets rendered expert-er and more neutral by being negotiated in public.
But forget Wikipedia for the moment. Think about the mailing lists you’ve been on for years. Some of them are just for fun, but others are our best source of information, knowledge and opinion about topics that matter to us. Over time, experts emerge on the list. Their posts are listened to, but also usefully challenged and extended. The mailing list as a whole is a better source than any of the individuals on it. Mailing lists embody social knowledge — knowledge that arises through conversation and that thus is not contained in any single head. Social knowledge is among, not in.
And not just at Wikipedia.
[Tags: knowledge epistemology wikipedia listserv]
and now
reading experience
It is I the fly on the infamous wall!! :-)
Now>>>>.I desire a opportunity to be the person., That has plenty, all needs are met, and to share with those less fortunate. Iguess that would be it
They say i can swim with theDolphins On monday….St Thomas ..Here i come
LOA….continue to welcome and share the secret it’s free Believe Me
But anyways!
http://positivepause.com/ check it out :http://awaken.greatday.com
the Jack and the beanstalk story!
I got the magic beans!>>>.. Ha ha
http://prosperityaffiliates.net/cgi-bin/affiliate/affiliate.cgi?user=vantman&site=site1
Forget mailing lists–think about online discussion forums, and blogs. I know that I’ve been given more food for thought in discussions that occurred on forums or between bloggers than in the average class I’ve had to sit through.
Adam, yep. Total agreement. Conversation generates, develops, validates, expands, contextualizes, and authenticates knowledge (to varying degrees, of course).
But I like mailing lists as an example because it’s such a venerable and humble form.
[…] Everything is Miscellaneous » Knowledge has always been social …“our metaphysics has led us to say that knowledge is a type of belief … something inside a head. … social knowledge — knowledge that arises through conversation and that thus is not contained in any single head. Social knowledge is among, not in” […]
[…] Everything is Miscellaneous » Knowledge has always been social …“our metaphysics has led us to say that knowledge is a type of belief … something inside a head. … social knowledge — knowledge that arises through conversation and that thus is not contained in any single head. Social knowledge is among, not in” […]
[…] Everything is Miscellaneous » Knowledge has always been social …“our metaphysics has led us to say that knowledge is a type of belief … something inside a head. … social knowledge — knowledge that arises through conversation and that thus is not contained in any single head. Social knowledge is among, not in” […]