202109060835 Knowledge is constructed

Constructivism and also Constructionism are theories of knowledge that requires there to be a learner for knowledge to exist. Until someone learns information, connects it to things they already know, and internalizes the information in a personal context, knowledge cannot exist.

Supporting arguments

• Having a text or reference at hand does nothing to increase knowledge, we have to create something, do the work, wrestle with the ideas, and engage effortfully to create our own knowledge.
• Research works better one thing at a time. Find a source, process it to completion, then use your newfound knowledge to find another source. If we don't, we run the risk of picking sources that are useless by the time we get around to reading them. Processing to completion includes writing about what you've read. This is where these notes come in. We take transient notes as we're reading and then write our thoughts here or in drafts of actual writing. (Iterative accumulative approach to writing #thread and writing is important #thread)
• Consider that data patterns and descriptions mean nothing on their own. For instance, strongly correlated but spurious patterns may be obviously meaningless.¹ Instead, we require a pattern or description (what), an interpretation of that pattern (why), and — critically — to synthesize multiple interpretations, hypotheses, theories, or models into a bigger picture and create something useful or interesting (why why or higher level why). Patterns and interpretations are the main work of our knowledge management system here. Synthesis happens when we write about (or just read and string together all the knowledge we accumulate in the system).

Contradicting arguments

• Hard adherence to constructivism can discount the role that reality plays in what is and can be known.²
• Mimicry #thread plays a critical role in our social evolution as a species (Cargo cults #thread). We may not understand why something works, but we're hardwired to repeat actions that are (possibly spuriously) correlated with positive outcomes.
  • Find some sources for this point. I know I read one when looking at Speed² and Alanazi.³

Related Ideas

• 202208211352 There is no shortcut to learning
• In order to construct knowledge you need to 202109060816 Do your own thinking.
• 202109060833 Sapere Aude! There is a personal responsibility, danger, excitement, and exhilaration that comes with the awareness that we construct our own knowledge.
• 202109061250 See, do, teach is a 202109061304 Experiential model of learning that is deeply connected to constructivism.
• Understanding 202107282144 Bloom's taxonomy of knowledge we can decide how much knowledge we want to create when we come across new information.
• 202109060836 Knowledge should accumulate. Produce more high-level knowledge (output work) by using existing work.
  • 202209091142 Notes are the fundamental unit of knowledge work
  • Create speculative outlines as you work
  • Executable strategy for writing
• Ensure originality and epistemological certainty
  • Use notes to avoid preconceived conclusions
  • Leaps of insight emerge from prior thought
    • Digital gardening as an analogy for cultivating thoughts
    • 202109150000 Idea Gardening
    • 202205021701 Digital streams vs gardens
    • 202308271108 Construct hooks for future knowledge
    • 202110251122 Analogy is a highly effective communication method
  • Develop wild ideas
  • Prefer consuming primary sources to secondary ones
• What is the role of philosophy over scientific inquiry? Read: Exalting Data, Missing Meaning #thread
• 202110231445 The SECI model of organizational knowledge
• 202408122103 The conclusiveness of arguments requires rigor