Syverson, Miller and Descartes

Questions for this evening’s WEC class center around the rest of Syverson’s book, The Wealth of Reality and readings by Richard Miller.   Questions 4 & 5 by Joe present an interesting contrast and focus on Miller’s readings.  In question 4, we are asked, given all of the information available to us in this digital age, how to recognize wheat versus chaff, or as I interpret it, quality information and truth versus garbage or fluff.  Question 5 then goes on to discuss all of the information we learn during a lifetime – the more knowledge we acquire, the more we can intellectually sort through it, put the pieces together and find clarity in all knowledge. 

But, if we question how to distinguish the wheat from the chaff, how are we to be sure the clarity we think we gain from all this knowledge is quality?  We need to be careful that the knowledge we think we have gained isn’t really chaff.  This is especially critical for children and teens.  It takes a lot of experience and maturity to be able to sort good information from bad.  Children and teens need adult guidance, feedback and input to decipher the information overload.

How do we do this?  I think the best way is discourse with others, especially experts.  If we express our interpretations and invite feedback, either in the classroom or on message boards - e.g., Syverson and perturbation, we may find that we were all wrong, or partly wrong, or absolutely in concert with others.  Or, as in the xlchc message board, not right or wrong, but pro or con on an issue.  Webster’s definition of perturbation is the action of causing or throwing into confusion.  Perturbations can cause ripples or waves with positive or negative results, but nonetheless, should be welcomed because nothing is gained without change.