• The Enlightenment (17th and 18th c. search for knowledge) gave way to the search for and gathering of information.

  • Enlightenment known for its “skepticism”; (As Diderot said, “The first step toward philosophy is disbelief.” [492])

  • Enlightenment valued information in context and with a specific purpose, a rhetorical purpose.

  • Rise of telegraphy and photography ushered in the "age of information"
     

• Definitions:

  • Fact: a thing that is; cannot be wrong (495)

  • Information: statements about facts; can be wrong (495)

  • Knowledge: “organized information – information that is embedded in some context; information that has a purpose, that leads one to seek further information in order to understand something about the world.” (495)

  • Wisdom: “the capacity to know what body of knowledge is relevant to the solution of significant problems. … Knowledge cannot judge itself. Knowledge must be judged by other knowledge, and therein lies wisdom.“ (497)

• Cloning Example: (497)

  • Information tells us scientists in Scotland have cloned a sheep, and scientists in US have cloned a monkey.

  • Knowledge answers questions about cloning: how is it done? When will humans be cloned? what is the history of cloning?

  • “Wisdom advises us on what system of knowledge we need in order to evaluate the act of cloning.” What are the ethical, religious, and political implications of cloning?

  • Opinion tells you what to think; wisdom tells you how to think, what questions to ask

Work cited:

Postman, Neil. "Information." Past to Present: Ideas that Changed Our World. Ed. Stuart and Terry Hirschberg. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2003: 488-498.