Econ Value of Ignorance LO4001

Bo Newman (bonewman@cbvcp.com)
Sat, 2 Dec 1995 06:20:01 GMT

Replying to David Frampton in Re: True nature of things LO3947

>I'm not used to people respecting my belief that there is great power in
ignorance.

And neither am I. The following came to me a while back and your comment
prompts me to share it with the group.

First two quotes to build on:

1. Science starts from problems and every worthwhile new theory raises new
problems (Karl Popper, the growth of Scientific Knowledge, 1960)

2. ... theories are the result of questions and questions are the produce
of perceived ignorance. Thus it is that ignorance gives rise to inquiry
that produces knowledge, which in turn discloses new areas of ignorance.
(Lee Loevinger, Skeptical Inquirer, Sep/Oct 1995)

Which generated the following thoughts.

Libraries, educational institutes and others who are about providing the
means to transform data and information into knowledge, need customers.
To be such a customer, an individual, organization, or society must become
aware of an area of ignorance and be sufficiently motivated (willing to
pay) to seek and answer. To develop customers we must therefor:

Cultivate within the potential set of customers a proclivity for
discovering their own ignorance about matters that are important to them
(i.e. develop a questioning mind set.) The discovery of ignorance should
not result in despair but should be welcomed as the seeds of opportunity.

Therefor; is clear to see that there is an economic value to ignorance.

We've come to where we are based on what we know. Where we go from here
depends on what we will learn.

--
Bo Newman
Project and Knowledge Management Consultant
bonewman@cbvcp.com