Is Google Killing General Knowledge?
The average student, though better-informed than the earl’s daughter appears to be, seems not to value general knowledge. If asked a factual question, they will usually click on a search engine without a second thought. Actually knowing the fact, committing it to memory, does not seem to be a consideration. Full Story »
Posted by Kaizar Campwala
Interesting article, with a bunch of very interesting comments. Like some of the commenters, I think that memorizing raw data is over-rated and that thinking skills are more important. However, both data and the ability to think must be taken in context - is it useful to your situation today? If society collapses tomorrow, will you be one of the victims or will you be one of the survivors? Did your knowledge and analytical ability help you to survive the recent economic recessions? IMO, if you answered that you were or would be one of the casualties, then I submit that you do not know the right facts, and do not have the correct intellectual and physical skills. There are a number of mature and thoughtful comments, although there are also the usual emotional drivel and character attacks you see everyday. The most thoughtful of the comments make the important point that just knowing facts, or knowing how to find facts, or what are widely considered thinking skills, are not enough: http://www.moreintelligentlife.com/content/brian-cathcart/no-passes#comment-10739 http://www.moreintelligentlife.com/content/brian-cathcart/no-passes#comment-10753 http://www.moreintelligentlife.com/content/brian-cathcart/no-passes#comment-10803 http://www.moreintelligentlife.com/content/brian-cathcart/no-passes#comment-10829 http://www.moreintelligentlife.com/content/brian-cathcart/no-passes#comment-10833