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Auto-didactic? | 9 comments
[new] Time to know (Avg. Score: none / Raters: 0) (#3)
by Aileen on Fri Mar 19th, 2004 at 12:53:16 PM EURODISCORDIA TIME
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That is an interesting comparison, Michael, which leads to a lot of associations for me personally - I live with a violin maker and different kinds of "knowledge" is a frequently recurring question, also in relation to the differences in what we both do with computers. First of all, I think all of his formal training and all the knowledge he has acquired over the years - historical background research, measuring and studying original instruments all over Europe and the US, long discussions with professional musicians - would not, by itself, account for the quality of the instruments he makes. His own musical ability, his keen hearing and the way he perceives music and sound in general, is not something that can be learned, I don't think, even if it can be practiced and honed over a long period of time.
How important a factor is time in other kinds of knowledge? What role does that play in turning "information derived from net-based technologies" into "knowledge"? I know how to gather information quickly on the Internet to get something of an overview of a broader context, and sometimes this seems to create the impression that I know more than I actually do. Working as a translator, I have the privilege of working with people who are very knowledgeable. It is important to me to understand the context of what they are communicating, to see connections and be aware of the implications of the ideas and how they are conveyed, but I see a great difference between that kind of understanding and actually "knowing".
This difference is more acute at the moment as I am trying to prepare to take part in a course on network administration starting next week. Reading through manuals on basic Unix commands, I *recognize* the commands, I know what they do, and I know how to find the relevant explanations for them on the infrequent occasions when I need to use them, but I am feeling very insecure about my lack of the kind of knowledge that can only be acquired through practice, and I just don't have that much practice. It remains to be seen how long I last in this course, or whether I need to go back to something more basic - because the information I have gathered is not yet knowledge.
To return to your question, given the quantity of information available and the speed at which it can be gathered, where does the factor of time fit in and what role does personal ability and interest (even more: passionately *wanting* to know) play in turning information into knowledge?

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Auto-didactic? | 9 comments
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