peter palmqvist wrote:
> In this discussion it seems appropriate to define some of the terms used.
> We suggest that knowledge is more of an absolute notion, i.e. knowledge
> is something one knows independently of what this knowledge is meant to be
> used for. Competence, however, can not be measured in absolute terms.
> Instead it is related to the ability to solve a certain task. It is
> therefore a mix between knowledge, experience, skills, values and a social
> network.
>
--snip--
>
> The question that comes to mind then is if, and in that case, to what
> extent this kind of culture is possible to create, or put in other words,
> which of the factors included in the definition of competence are possible
> to transfer to an organization via the creation of a competence-supporting
> culture, and which are only possible to maintain in the minds of people.
Peter, your writing evoked an internal reflection for me concerning the
loss of knowledge that occurred during the decline of the Roman Empire.
This loss of scientific, mathematical, philosophical and religious thought
(gnosis) materially affected the western world for the next 1000 years.
If it hadn't been for the fact that the scholars of North Africa and the
Middle East had acquired and husbanded that knowledge, which eventually
found its' way back into Europe, much of the knowledge that molded western
civilization during the last 500 years would simply not have influenced us
today, at all.
In your comment about integrating knowledge, experience, skills (and so
forth), it is quite interesting to consider how the loss of knowledge was
commensurate to losses in social competence(agriculture, engineering, law,
and politics, to name just a few) during the European Dark Ages.
I realize that you were probably writing in the context of keeping
knowledge on a smaller scope. That's probably the only way to tackle the
issue. However, the aggregate knowledge loss could be (as many
speculative writers have speculated) just as devastating (or more so) as
that experienced in our history, without institutions such as yours.
I'm sure that others will contribute more concretely to this thread than I
have. I'll admit that the opportunity to view Da Vinci's "Codex
Leicester" at the Seattle Art Museum contributed to this thread. The
intellectual exercises in which Leonardo engaged are simply remarkable. I
couldn't help but think, though, what he might have done with access to
the knowledge which was lost to him.
regards,
Doc
-- "One thought fills immensity." -William BlakeDuring this holiday season, remember to give your time and money to those organizations working with less fortunate people. If you live in South Puget Sound, consider volunteering as a phone worker with the Crisis Clinic--or contribute in any other way that you may. May life's blessings be with you.
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