[philtanney]

Hi all,

I was interested in a nearby thread, which is now locked, so I guess I shouldn't link to it.  I too feel that it's excessive for any forum to demand exclusive rights to content, if that is the requirement.   I've made my living online since 1995, and am a forum software developer, and have never heard of such a thing.  It's possible I just don't understand the policy.  I welcome a clarification of any misunderstandings I may have.

I would like to discuss a science topic that interests me.  I've already attempted to engage in this discussion previously on other forums, but was hoping to find a more thoughtful conversation.   So here I am.

I'm not interested in copy/pasting anything, and am willing to restate the question in new words for this forum.   I'm more than willing to engage whatever comments may appear directly and specifically. 

Because the question may challenge a widely held group consensus, I may have to hold up one side of the inquiry on my own.   Hopefully not, but this is possible.  If I take a point of view in order to stimulate a thoughtful inquiry that digs below the surface, is that "evangelizing"?  I'm happy to agree in advance that nobody including myself has the perfect answer. 

My question is "How Much Knowledge Is Too Much?" and I hope to explore the relationship between knowledge and judgment, a question which seems central to the enterprise of science.   If I should proceed, where's the best place for such discussion?

Many thanks for your input.

Phil

[Don_1]

Hi and welcome to the forum.



"How Much Knowledge Is Too Much?"

Where to post this question rather depends on where you expect to go with it. Are you heading in the field of the environment or the capacity of the human mind or something else?

[philtanney]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

Thanks for the welcome and your reply.  I just couldn't resist the prospect of becoming a naked scientist.    

Where to post this question rather depends on where you expect to go with it. Are you heading in the field of the environment or the capacity of the human mind or something else?

Hmm, let's see.  Well, it's a global question that would seem to be relevant to  science as a whole.  Here's a sample, which may help you advise me.   

Science seems based on a "more is better" relationship with knowledge.   

What limits, if any, are there to a "more is better" approach to knowledge?  Should we assume that because "more is better" seems to have long been true, that it therefore remains true, and will always be true?

Examining the foundational assumptions of any enterprise seems a point of greatest leverage, an opportunity to reap the biggest bang for the intellectual buck so to speak.   I would argue unexamined foundational assumptions are especially ripe areas for investigation. 

And so I suggest a group effort that investigates the question, "How Much Knowledge Is Too Much?"   The title deliberately suggests that some amount might be too much, which is intended to inspire participation by challenging what may be a group consensus of "more is better".

The General Science section?   Our modern science based civilization, as a whole, might be seen as a huge experiment that is testing a "more is better" relationship with knowledge.   

Does that help?

[Don_1]

I was in two minds where this might be best posted.

Your explanation has led me to drop the idea of posting in 'Just Chat' and go with, as you suggest, 'General Science', since you want to cover a wide spectrum of scientific disciplines.

Do be wary of bringing religion into the argument, or going down the same road which led to a previous thread being locked.

[philtanney]

Your explanation has led me to drop the idea of posting in 'Just Chat' and go with, as you suggest, 'General Science', since you want to cover a wide spectrum of scientific disciplines.

Ok, will do Don, thanks.

Do be wary of bringing religion into the argument,

I'm not religious, though I do find religion interesting.  However, discussion of religion is entirely unnecessary for this conversation.   No worries, it won't be me that raises that subject here.

or going down the same road which led to a previous thread being locked.

I'm sorry, I don't understand, what road and thread is that?  Can you clarify please?

[Don_1]

or going down the same road which led to a previous thread being locked.

I'm sorry, I don't understand, what road and thread is that?  Can you clarify please?

In your first post you wrote:

I was interested in a nearby thread, which is now locked, so I guess I shouldn't link to it.

[philtanney]

I've already discussed this on other forums, and plan to continue doing so in the future.   Ok, or not?

[Geezer]

I've already discussed this on other forums, and plan to continue doing so in the future.   Ok, or not?

As long as you are not simply cutting and pasting, or pasting links it's OK. It sounds more of a philosophical question. Suggest you put it in "just chat".

[CliffordK]

I think that "How Much Knowledge Is Too Much?" would make a great discussion, but should be separate from this thread.  As Geezer mentioned it, put it under "Just Chat".  You could do a poll if appropriate, although the number of responses to polls seems to be relatively low.

You can certainly reference other discussions or materials, especially if you've pulled an important fact from someone else's work.  However, most people at TNS don't like to be sent to another website to hunt for the point of a discussion.  Just post the main point HERE.

Nobody bothers to search for repeats of information across the web for all topics, but some of the "cookie cutter" discussions stick out as a form of web SPAM.