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Introduction
Introduction
Some introductory comments, about this course glossary, you should note.
Some introductory comments, about this course glossary, you should note.
There is a subtext to this glossary, and it is this: Too many have a very poor understanding of the difference between knowledge and information. The two are not the same, even though in daily parlance they are often used interchangeably. Information is what we get, for example, when we do research. It is usually in the form of facts, observations, and the like. After the information has been gathered it must be processed (analyzed)--which involves critical thinking--to transform it into knowledge: the body of analyzed information that allows us to understand whatever it is that the research was about. To give you an example from your world: to know the different parts of a car engine and their functions is to possess information about that engine. However, that is not knowledge; knowledge of a car engine is when you can explain the physical principles behind the operation of the engine. It is knowledge of these principles that allowed the invention of the engine. (So, do you know the principles behind the operation of a car engine?…. I thought so.)
There is a subtext to this glossary, and it is this: Too many have a very poor understanding of the difference between knowledge and information. The two are not the same, even though in daily parlance they are often used interchangeably. Information is what we get, for example, when we do research. It is usually in the form of facts, observations, and the like. After the information has been gathered it must be processed (analyzed)--which involves critical thinking--to transform it into knowledge: the body of analyzed information that allows us to understand whatever it is that the research was about. To give you an example from your world: to know the different parts of a car engine and their functions is to possess information about that engine. However, that is not knowledge; knowledge of a car engine is when you can explain the physical principles behind the operation of the engine. It is knowledge of these principles that allowed the invention of the engine. (So, do you know the principles behind the operation of a car engine?…. I thought so.)
In order to transform information into knowledge you have to have access to tools of analysis (which usually takes the form of theories, concepts, and the like). The purpose of this glossary, then, is to also introduce you to some of these key concepts and theories.
In order to transform information into knowledge you have to have access to tools of analysis (which usually takes the form of theories, concepts, and the like). The purpose of this glossary, then, is to also introduce you to some of these key concepts and theories.
Knowledge is not always neutral (and that includes scientific knowledge). Knowledge, especially in the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, generally tends to be biased in some way, depending upon who is producing it—though that does not automatically mean that such knowledge is incorrect or useless. Hence, not surprisingly, conservatives tend to be suspicious about knowledge produced by liberals (and vice versa); similarly, progressives are suspicious of knowledge produced by both conservatives and liberals. Ideally, when knowledge, if it is biased at all, must always be biased toward the view that mutual harmony in society rests on democracy (not in its narrow sense, but in its wider dyadic sense as defined here). It is democracy that separates human beings from barbarity and chaos.[1]
Knowledge is not always neutral (and that includes scientific knowledge). Knowledge, especially in the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, generally tends to be biased in some way, depending upon who is producing it—though that does not automatically mean that such knowledge is incorrect or useless. Hence, not surprisingly, conservatives tend to be suspicious about knowledge produced by liberals (and vice versa); similarly, progressives are suspicious of knowledge produced by both conservatives and liberals. Ideally, when knowledge, if it is biased at all, must always be biased toward the view that mutual harmony in society rests on democracy (not in its narrow sense, but in its wider dyadic sense as defined here). It is democracy that separates human beings from barbarity and chaos.[1]
(Text continues below, however you must also study the images.)
Instructions on How to Use These Class Notes
Instructions on How to Use These Class Notes
1. People, this online course glossary (or lexicon) is a permanent work in progress; meaning it is constantly under revision. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that you do NOT print this material but instead only access it online whenever you want to consult it. This will ensure that you are reading the latest version.
1. People, this online course glossary (or lexicon) is a permanent work in progress; meaning it is constantly under revision. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that you do NOT print this material but instead only access it online whenever you want to consult it. This will ensure that you are reading the latest version.
2. Not all terms in this course glossary may be relevant to your particular course.
2. Not all terms in this course glossary may be relevant to your particular course.
3. Please keep a dictionary handy when going through this material; you may need it.
3. Please keep a dictionary handy when going through this material; you may need it.
4. Words highlighted in bold within the text of a definition is an indication that these words are also defined elsewhere in this glossary and therefore they must also be consulted for test purposes, even if they may not have been explicitly assigned. <-- Read this sentence again.
4. Words highlighted in bold within the text of a definition is an indication that these words are also defined elsewhere in this glossary and therefore they must also be consulted for test purposes, even if they may not have been explicitly assigned. <-- Read this sentence again.
5. Do not succumb to intellectual laziness by omitting to study any included images and end notes. This is really important! (By the way, where did you get the brilliant idea that footnotes and endnotes are irrelevant?)
5. Do not succumb to intellectual laziness by omitting to study any included images and end notes. This is really important! (By the way, where did you get the brilliant idea that footnotes and endnotes are irrelevant?)
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NOTES
NOTES
[1] In general, the approach in this glossary is from the standpoint that knowledge about society, as an object of study, must be undergirded by the position that no one has a monopoly on "true" knowledge. Consequently, in matters of dispute, one must steer through the middle ground between the left’s obsession with “socioeconomic structuralism” (class, ethnicity, race, gender, and so on), versus the right’s equal obsession with “individual agency” (ambition, discipline, intellect, deferred gratification, and so on).
[1] In general, the approach in this glossary is from the standpoint that knowledge about society, as an object of study, must be undergirded by the position that no one has a monopoly on "true" knowledge. Consequently, in matters of dispute, one must steer through the middle ground between the left’s obsession with “socioeconomic structuralism” (class, ethnicity, race, gender, and so on), versus the right’s equal obsession with “individual agency” (ambition, discipline, intellect, deferred gratification, and so on).
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