Faith by the Spoken Word - Final Post

We inherit many things from our parents. In the process of growing up, we learn to speak their language. We mimic their actions, striving to become like them. We gain this folk knowledge from our parents without needing to be taught explicitly. We simply learn from their example. Perhaps most importantly, we construct our beliefs according the values taught by our parents. Without question, we accept the religion of our fathers. It’s only after we are grown and we enter a larger world that we realize the variety of religious options that exist. Worldwide there are hundreds of religions that have been preserved throughout the years by oral tradition. Arguably, these religions have thrived only because they have been passed down orally. In fact, oral knowledge has had a more powerful effect upon spirituality and religious practice than any other type of knowledge.

Fin

Knowledge comes in many different forms and is also learned in many different ways. Using the 4 units of knowledge we discussed during our in-class salon, I was able to better analyze the connections between all the units.

Here’s a brief overview about the 4 units of knowledge from my discussions:

            Folk: Essentially the knowledge gained not by textual means but rather by first-hand experience. For example: taking a shower, how to sing, and throwing and catching a ball.

            Oral: I discussed with Jenna and Rachel how knowledge that is transmitted orally must have the basis of folk knowledge. Within religion and spirituality, oral communication is necessary and vital. For example: listening to general conference, Buddhists’ mantra, and ministers in common churches.

            Written: Discussion interestingly centered a lot on handwriting and the value they hold within even today’s culture. Also today’s knowledge institutions still have written knowledge. For example, math and physics classes have homework assignments with formulas, equations, and problems that are all handwritten and turned in.

            Print: Talked of the possibility that print will become obsolete and what the effects will be. Translation with each generation of past knowledge, have we reached the point where future generations will not have to translate into own medium?

Thesis:            

            Through the evolution and development of knowledge, society and culture have developed multiple mediums to communicate that knowledge and will continue to do so with the fundamental unit being folk knowledge, while other units of knowledge may become obsolete or nonessential.

One Final Paper

             When going through the ages and looking at the different forms that knowledge transmission has taken, and the different institutions in which knowledge has been preserved, it’s impossible to avoid noticing trends.  When the history of knowledge is examined from the standpoint of these institutions, the ideas proposed by Ian McNeely in his book Reinventing Knowledge seem to almost present themselves.  One thing that is certain is the inevitability of change.  I have found, however, that there are a few things that remain constant in the way that things change.  In almost every case, as media and institutions shift, the new method tries to imitate or reproduce the old, then grows into its own niche, finally reaching the end of a ‘learning curve’, where a new institution or medium can meet new needs left by the old medium.

Knowledge Needed for a Nation

     Throughout history nations have come to be and passed by, leaving their mark on existence. Some left legends of grandeur, while other left nothing but their bones to be found by others. Traditions have been passed down mouth to mouth; some nations have left scrolls and pictorial scripts. While others left only remnants of tools and craftworks for a clue about their ways of life. What helped these nations who thrived and chose to do more than just exist to become the beacons of knowledge? These nations became so much more because they were built on a foundation that knew how to purvey their knowledge from one form to another.

Reinventing Knowledge: The Final Post

As this semester has gone on, my ideas about knowledge have constantly been changing. Each new unit, blog post, and in class discussion gave me new insights on the topic, and standing at the end of our journey I have come to a conclusion. The ability to express our thoughts through spoken word is the most significant advance in the communication of knowledge in human history, and this oral knowledge is the basis of knowledge in all of its other forms.

And So It Ends

Folk Knowledge

Self-Directed Learning:
For me, folk knowledge is anything that is learned outside of the classroom. I focused my initial studies on symbols and their meanings.  I noticed that the culture greatly influenced a person's understanding of symbols. Also, I learned to knit. Something that I never expected to learn to do. In fact, my roommates were quite shocked when they found me sitting at my desk with the purple knitting needles in hand. (maybe they were even more shocked by the "lengthy" scarf at the end of the needles.)

Response to...well...a whole semester of information!

Well, I didn’t do it the way everyone else did it, and now I like everyone else’s posts better!  Oh well.  I studied with the post about the informal blog and the salon in front of me, and I took notes on the interesting things I remembered, and reviewed several of the blogs I found most à propos.  I went through after I was finished and tried to organize these more or less by unit, but it’s far from a perfect science.  Anyway, my notes!