ISKO Italy Open conference systems, Paradigms and conceptual systems in KO

Concepts as particles: metaphors for the universe of knowledge

Charles van den Heuvel, Richard Smiraglia

Building: Main building
Room: Hall VI
Date: 2010-02-24 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Last modified: 2009-12-31

Abstract


Discoveries in high energy physics have led to new understanding about the nature of that which exists. We use the metaphor of the particle collider to accumulate components of a theory of knowledge that underlies the science of knowledge organization. We outline the concepts of a knowledge universe, the central role of concepts, and the intertwining roles of works, instantiations and documents. This thought experiment provides a different epistemological reading of “knowledge” by demonstrating a semantics that is based on structure and on related forces between components, rather than on content, so as to enable the development of mechanisms for linking related knowledge entities with so-far undiscovered similarities.