RE: Information, Data, Taxonomy of knowledge

["Vic Forte" <vic@vicf.com>]

> Isn't there something more to the whole data mining,  knowledge
> building process?  The artist, for instants; whether a writer,
> sculptor, poet or painter; isn't his entire reason for being -
> driving force; AIM; to transfer an intangible concept or
> emotion(s) into a medium that conveys those thought and/or emotions?

Well, look. If I thought that it was impossible to communicate an experience
to someone I would not be writing this. In some way all communication
attempts to convey thoughts etc. I agree with you that experiencing the
greatest art is the closest you can get to actually having the experience
yourself. Maybe even more powerful. A lot of people fought in the first
world war. A few other people read Wilfred Owen and perhaps still had their
lives transformed.

But if you are an artist, you could maybe tell me about the process by which
you create a painting. I could talk to you about what it's like to compose a
song. But, I would suggest that neither of us would be any the wiser when it
came to painting or composing, until we actually tried to do it, with help
from the other.

The original point arose out of an observation that "direct knowledge" was
important within the context of Dr Deming's work, and that the a good way to
communicate such direct knowledge is through a process of mentoring, which
it to partner someone through a learning process.

I was trying to contrast direct knowledge with indirect knowledge which is
an abstraction (I said "superordination" - sorry about that) from direct
knowledge, and is best approached through study, whereas direct knowledge is
attained though doing (yes I know study is also doing .. but I hope I can
still make the point). That's why in the PDSA cycle the word "DO" is in
there as well as the word "STUDY".

The other point I was trying to make in my very clumsy sentence that you
quoted, was that direct knowledge, really, is personal. There is a
uniqueness about it that cannot be shared, but it can be abstracted and
shared indirectly. That's all. I'm not trying to say that direct knowledge
is the only form, or that it is better. But I am saying that it's essential.

What I really love about the Deming philosophy is that way that it helps us
to discover our path for ourselves and learn and build from it. "Intrinsic
motivation" slots in well here.

Almost every other system that I have come across abstracts from the
particular, and presents you with the general, and then says "copy this".
The Deming approach says "every situation is unique - here are some
principles that apply - go and try them in your situation - and then learn."