geographies of knowledge

[miriam_e]

...or, the countries of Earth merge while the countries of mind emerge.

Have you noticed the increasing separation between the realms of knowledge? It's nothing new for people to band together and then diverge from the rest of humanity. What is new is that these groups are no longer necessarily bound by geography. Their members can exist all over the planet inside an increasingly homogeneous society, but are becoming separated from other groups by vast gulfs of understanding. A geography of mind is diversifying, isolating regions that seemed not long ago to be the one kingdom. A kind of continental drift is in effect, but instead of taking millions of years to produce noticeable change, this works in mere decades, or even less.

Hundreds of years ago any single person could reasonably hope master much of the knowledge and literature of the world. Now it's impossible to master just a single narrow disipline.

I expect amazing new breeds of mental engineers will work out ways to build bridges between the rapidly separating continents of mind. Of course some relics will be left behind to despair about the three Rs, bewildered at what is happening around them... but that's okay. They can be the custodians of old knowledge. It's all good. It's all important.

Humanity is embarking on an age where the strangest person in the world will be the one standing beside you. They'll understand concepts completely beyond your wildest imaginings, and likewise you will know things they couldn't hope to comprehend. Such an age will defy uniformity with its chaotic exploration of all the realms of knowledge.

I've often felt that we live in a renaissance now, but the current explosion of knowledge and culture will pale beside what is coming.

Don't let the fear mongers make you want to retreat. It's natural to feel unsettled by it; all generations have felt changes were happening uncomfortably fast. Prepare for the whirlwind. This is going to be the ride of your life.

Comments

I'm hopeful

[revbobbob.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much, Miriam, for that hope and for the enthusiasm. Alliances and friendships are dissolving so much that limits us. I too intend to have an enthusiasmic life until I crumble and the dust blows away.

Re: I'm hopeful

[miriam-e.livejournal.com]

I soooo wish I could see what is coming in another 50 years. It feels like a great injustice that I'll miss out. :)

If we play our cards right the younger generations alive now will see humanity step up to a level difficult for us even to imagine. I'd give almost anything to witness that.