There are arguably more serious problems globally today culturally, politically, and especially environmentally than ever in history that necessitate the study of epistemology or theory of knowledge, individually and collectively, and of the role of creativity and imagination. Our epistemic crises center on culture wars and the Technopolis in the realms of free speech protection, higher education goals, climate knowledge, environmental and species protection, the power of historical records, future of democracies, and extinction itself.
My upcoming Creative Commons anthology/textbook, with a first chapter on epistemology or theory of knowledge, examines the very possibility of knowledge and reality in the midst of all of this with rampant misinformation and disinformation, echo chambers etc. One of the clearest ways to understand critical thinking is as applied epistemology.
This carefully curated anthology is of interest and of value to students and others who want to first consider the nature of good thinking/critical thinking that is not fully explained in schools and colleges, and also begin to envision a future of possibilities in the natural world. While designed with students in mind, this book is also inspiring for those who want to be a part of the global movement to craft a New Story of an Ecological Civilization, via their communities, in the ocean of information, for the common good.
Taking the reality of ignorance (Agnotology) into account as part of our nature, this process of discovery is a tall order for anyone because of domination, overconsumption, waste, and narrow and exclusionary definitions of knowledge and the knowable, and the shunting aside of other important ways of knowing and being. But the pace of change in society and the increasing dominance of the Technopolis makes this effort a necessity. This is the realm of both epistemology and ontology and the search for truth and vital belief systems to create an infosphere of hope and love, inspired by indigenous knowledge-making over thousands of years, where humans are not separated from nature.
It is the realm of higher education as a keystone for our future, and about how to encourage and build deep learning about complex systems. The following is an early first draft of one of the chapters. EducationPhilosophyWalkerBrief2
Also in Merlot: The Conundrum of Education
You generally have to register properly on this site to read responses. Here is one from a top former student at Charter Oak State College:
Throughout reading The “Conundrum of Education in the Age of Distraction,” I repeatedly found myself thinking, “wow! What a brilliant piece.”
Throughout the years, I have read and reread this essay at least 7 or 8 times, yet I not only continue to enjoy its depth and profundity, but I also extrapolate new points, and relate to different insights each time. Artistically, you write broad enough to allow for the application of not only a diverse reading group, but also for the evolution of an individual on a journey. With that, you still manage to be detailed and personal in a way that makes the text feel very relatable.
Reading this essay in 2011, and then again today, underlined the evolution of different variables, struggles and triumphs that are intrinsically a part of the search for education and ultimate happiness. The world is in a perpetual state of constant change, and as human beings, we too share this characteristic. The exploration of means versus ends, distraction versus self-awareness, and our relationship with nature and the attainment of true happiness will always pose a struggle on some level. Yet, that struggle may manifest in different forms and foster diverse questions for an individual depending on the circumstance, or ones personal journey. What moves me the most, is that this same essay, continues to resonate with me despite the personal and circumstantial changes I have endured since my Junior year in college.
Specifically, the conflict you elaborate on in regards to our positive need to be distracted, compelled by our drive for new information, with our need to contemplate and gain self-awareness which allows us to understand our own disposition, are so poignant, I find myself truly moved. Not subscribing to a ‘tuned out’ philosophy, is not just an important value, but is actually necessary in the current information driven workforce and society. Yet, as you point out, how can one’s personal “door” or “key” ever be understood or even discovered in such a distracted environment. Other times I wonder if we only feel so distracted as a result of the magnitude and fast nature of this technological revolution but over time, perhaps, we will learn to consciously, and sub-consciously adapt and revert back towards our natural disposition involving nature, self-reflection and awareness?
Thank you for writing such an inspiring piece!