Readings for class on knowledge
I just sent the following to the class members via email, but figured I’d post it here, too:
For the next class, you’re assigned to read one of several Wikipedia articles, especially its discussion pages. That’s because I want us to be able to talk about what sorts of issues can be settled and which ones can’t. Do we think there is a single knowledge about these issues that can be discovered and known once and for all?
But some of those articles are long, and the discussion pages can be endless. So, don’t feel obligated to read all of them. Find a few juicy discussions that seem to bear on the question of what we can know.
Also, I get shy about talking about what I’ve written, so please treat the readings in my two books as optional.
Sorry to change things at the last moment. I’m new to this. Well, new-ish.
Finally, I hope the connection to the question of perfection will be clear. Is knowledge perfectable? Is the Web making us stupider by throwing up more and more bad info, and distracting us from the path of truth? Or is truth not so much a path as, well, you tell me…
See you on Monday.
– David Weinberger
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