3DN Information
Information, Knowledge, Wisdom and Vision
- Knowledge is best understood in relation to information and wisdom. Information is data about the world. Knowledge is the capacity to understand the meaning of that data and use it to negotiate (change, manipulate, affect, . . .) flows through the system. Wisdom is the capacity to predict the overall result of a decision about the use of such knowledge. All of these exist as a continuum of human knowledge in each individual.
- I would like to add a word that describes "point of view" (Vision?). Are we viewing our solution from "inside" the problem or "outside" the problem. From inside (like inside a maze or inside a dense forest) we think in terms of the "next step from here". From outside, where we can see the whole landscape, we think in terms of the best route from "where we are" to "where we want to be".
- When describing what we see from the outside to someone on the inside, they cannot see "where we want to be" as possible because they cannot see how to get there from where we are.
- This idea of knowledge and wisdom and vision (point of view) is at the heart of the planetary mind's ability to change "common knowledge".
- From the inside point of view (first and second dimensional views) the world appears to be a set of objects - all in competition with one another. The common knowledge is that humans can defend themselves against those objects that are a threat and advance the interests of those objects that deliver a benefit. We are highly knowledgeable in this respect - but the fact that we are engaged in a downward environmental spiral and face a seemingly intractable set of conflicts would indicate that we are short on wisdom - the ability to predict the overall consequences of our choices.
- From the outside point of view, third dimensional, the world appears to be a single set of connections directing flows of value - where the loss of a connection is the loss of value to the system and new connections represent an increase of value flowing through the system. We can test which view is the more accurate understanding of system function by experimenting with new kinds of connections. The results of those tests, circulating through the planetary mind, will increase the system's wisdom, by allowing more and more people to make better choices.
- That is why I say that we are not trying to convince everyone in the world - or even trying to bring the issue to the attention of the rest of the world. All we need to do is find enough resources to begin conducting the tests. Until we have results our efforts will mostly be wasted expressing outside understanding to people with inside understanding. If third dimensional understanding is more accurate, we will be more effective playing the game - and develop our capacity to predict the overall results of our choices.
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