Technologies of Knowing: A Proposal for the Human Sciences

This witty and well-written book is a mix of intellectual argument, journalistic adventure, and philosophical reasoning (it leads to the Kantian Enlightenment Test, p.135). Technologies of Knowing presents a proposal for getting better value out of our investment in social science research. Now there's an idea whose time has come, I thought, given what we "invest" in this research (the author estimates $3-4 billion annually is spent through our universities and publicly-funded agencies, with what might be inadequate cost/benefit validation!!!). This book suggests that it's not e-commerce, or even e-services, but e-sense where this knowledge economy really comes of age. Willinsky proposes a model, a fictional Automata Data Corporation, that would make more sense, more access, more understanding of the methods and results of extensive social science research in health, education and other (high cost) areas of public interest. The author proposes using currently available internet, database and data mining technologies to "pull out" more meaning from research, and then more effectively apply this knowledge to addressing social issues through the participation of a more informed public. Willinsky uses many easy-to-relate-to examples from the social sciences (such as the debate about phonics versus whole-language approaches to the teaching of reading in our schools) to demonstrate how public access to the actual research behind these divergent views and positions would help us make better individual and societal choices. I am intrigued by this model of Information Age democracy, more sophisticated and valuable than the oft-uninformed Town Hall internet discussions currently in vogue, used by politicians to gauge public perceptions but often lacking in carefully-considered and researched ideas. After reading this book, I am inclined to think that an even better use of technology (after selling books, of course) might be to connect social science research to that public it purports to serve, improving the public value of all that knowledge. We have the technologies to better organize and make available complex information. Getting on with it would deliver a price-earnings multiple that might add up to better shareholder value for all of us who pay for social science research and should benefit from it, living as we do in a rather complex world.

I enjoyed the book. Yet what impressed most was the need a public service which would have the independence necessary to provide a real online community where not only all the research were shared but also an intellectual freedom to make use of all this knowledge. The book points to the importance of research. It may not always help us as persons or a society. However, it can be used for very politcal aims. Therefore, if it it was made available in an honest fashion, at least everyone could have the chance of responding. More and more centers of media and research is controlled by a small group.The general needs such a service more than ever. However, the reality it otherwise. This could a costly affair if properly done. How many people would actually use it? Our society reads less and is becoming more polarized.The book does not address the political problem behind all this. The disputes are exposed a very santiized in the book. It would have been appropriate to mention the slow control of Internet and all mass media by a small group of people. It is easy to make fun as many do, not this author, of liberals who failed at going any REAL GOOD for society. There may be a danger of society going backwards to times when a large group was ostracized by a dangerous minorty.Perhaps my concerns of not having the full picture may have been covered ino other books by the author. It seems that the public debate is filled with too many neo-conservative thinkers who always bash liberalism, welfare and socialism while hiding the dark realities of our society. It is a worthwhile read. My own Webby existence makes me daily see the need for a true AUTOMATA DATA.