Principles of knowledge use

I started this blog with a motivating example and some key questions to guide my musings. Then, I started writing. In reading through my posts this past week, I am pleased to see that I haven't strayed off course too much. The microbeads example turned out to be surprisingly helpful in describing some key issues that I think about when it comes to knowledge use. I was also amused at how these posts allowed me a (clearly) much needed opportunity to exercise my sceptical spirit.

Over the first six posts I sought to describe the core principles of knowledge use. These are:

• knowledge use is ubiquitous and knowledge dynamic
• truthful ideas and useful ideas are not an equivalent set
• there are limitations in our ability to foresee the implications of implementing knowledge
• limitations notwithstanding, we have a duty to use knowledge well. This means improving pathways to implementation but it also means:
• stalling the use of knowledge until due diligence has been undertaken; and
• not implementing knowledge if there are indications that significant adverse outcomes are likely

With these core concepts out of the way, and having squeezed all the educational value I can out of microbeads, I think I will bring this section to a close.

For the next series of posts, I would like to discuss some specific models for using knowledge and the thinkers behind them. For any loiterers reading this post, I would love to hear your requests for possible blog posts. I can't promise to oblige, but I will try.