Ramifications of Wikipedia – The Second Renaissance:
Inspired by the ease at which one can do research using modern tools (Wikipedia), I wonder what future intellectual thought will be like with such a broad range of study at our fingertips.
Wikipedia allows you to easily locate information to gain a peripheral understanding of a given field. The more in depth you need to look into the subject, the more difficult information is to find (relative to at a shallower depth). Because of the centralization and veracity of all basic information through Wikipedia, fundamental knowledge of virtually all fields has become easily obtainable. In the 20th century it was difficult to get a broad understanding of multiple fields as you had to (typically) go to the library, search through a card catalog, and most likely search through volumes of potentially out of date encyclopedias. Scholars traditionally held themselves to a single field and focused their learning there because of this inescapable initial resistance.
In the 21st century, because of not only the ease of finding basic information on all fields but also the (relative to 30 years ago) ease of finding more in depth information, intellectuals can easily obtain a more well rounded view of the world. Multiple disciplines can be understood simultaneously. Consequentially, conclusions drawn from field A can now be linked to fields B and C. This broadens the scope of understanding and leads to new conclusions encompassing many fields of study. Broad knowledge, once confined to the philosopher, sociologist or historian is now readily obtainable. Intellectuals are no longer confined to the paradigm choices of specialist (Master of a field) or generalist (”Jack of All Trades”). This information revolution will lead to a fundamental change in the attitudes of intellectuals. It will slowly strip away the selfish hoarding of intellectual capital to reveal the vast mutual benefits of shared learning and understanding through technology. To understand this cultural shift, we must look at the roots of Western “intellectual capitalism” and their formulation in the Renaissance era.
The Renaissance Ideal of the omniscient intellectual is known as the “Renaissance Man”. This man was expected to have a courtly facade masking any potential inner turmoil or vigorous thought. This man, as Baldassare Castiglione puts it, has “a certain nonchalance, so as to conceal all art and make whatever one does or says appear to be without effort and almost without any thought about it”. This practiced grace and concealed thought adds an air of effortlessness to his accomplishments. This facade has largely been maintained by the elite and carried into the late 20th century.
In our modern society this facade, or “Sprezzatura” in Italian, shown by the affluent, knowledgeable and talented can be discouraging to others. It creates a schism between seeing an accomplishment and understanding it. To the average man, it supposes that skills come much more naturally to the polymath where the average man must think through, practice and cultivate these skills. This gives the average man a complex and he comes to believe that the polymath merely flows with life and knowledge in a more natural way than he does. He feels crippled by his lack of natural talent and ability. This Sprezzatura masks the trials, mistakes, and practices of the polymath. His hard work and personal struggles are concealed and their wisdom lost.
By my own experience I have always reflexively eschewed the Sprezzatura, striving instead for openness. I believe the human mind must always be open and the modern man must display the willingness to constantly be in both a state of prideless teaching and shameless learning. This is my personal prophecy for the modern man must contend he is the prototypical “man of the future” lest he lose the will to live into it.
I am not alone as the world is moving in this direction. In the information age we have naturally opened ourselves, and our methods, up to the world. Internet based open discussion through Blogging, Microblogging (Twitter) and public comments on everything from articles to video broadcasts has married transparency and accountability to debate like never before. Many social walls have been broken down in this process and people now see the benefits of expressing themselves openly. Pioneers besides Wikipedia include MIT with their OpenCourseWare system and the myriad of private companies who subscribe to the model of open-source community driven software development. These beliefs have seeped into our common culture and, as technology becomes more advanced, they will become more prevalent.
Through this lens we catch a glimpse of the prototypical “Man of the Future”. This 21st century Renaissance man will pride himself on openness, clear thought and explanation. He will take pleasure in teaching others his skills and crafts. He will speak slowly, thoroughly, and accurately. He will be quick to admit his own lack of knowledge for he knows that the opportunity of identifying one’s own intellectual weakness is an opportunity to learn. This new man will reveal all artistic methods with a fiery enthusiasm. This cannot be confused with overthought or dwelling. The classic facade of the Sprezzatura will be removed, revealing the precious systems of logic used to improve the self.
This breakthrough to involuntary openness and intellectual generosity will fuel the creativity and zest for life of the intellectually discouraged and downtrodden. Knowing their peers’ grace is not primordial but learned, attempted and labored over will embolden those who could not see through the Sprezzatura. This is the essence of the “Second Renaissance”.
Inspired by the ease at which one can do research using modern tools (Wikipedia), I wonder what future intellectual thought will be like with such a broad range of study at our fingertips.
Wikipedia allows you to easily locate information to gain a peripheral understanding of a given field. The more in depth you need to look into the subject, the more difficult information is to find (relative to at a shallower depth). Because of the centralization and veracity of all basic information through Wikipedia, fundamental knowledge of virtually all fields has become easily obtainable. In the 20th century it was difficult to get a broad understanding of multiple fields as you had to (typically) go to the library, search through a card catalog, and most likely search through volumes of potentially out of date encyclopedias. Scholars traditionally held themselves to a single field and focused their learning there because of this inescapable initial resistance.
In the 21st century, because of not only the ease of finding basic information on all fields but also the (relative to 30 years ago) ease of finding more in depth information, intellectuals can easily obtain a more well rounded view of the world. Multiple disciplines can be understood simultaneously. Consequentially, conclusions drawn from field A can now be linked to fields B and C. This broadens the scope of understanding and leads to new conclusions encompassing many fields of study. Broad knowledge, once confined to the philosopher, sociologist or historian is now readily obtainable. Intellectuals are no longer confined to the paradigm choices of specialist (Master of a field) or generalist (”Jack of All Trades”). This information revolution will lead to a fundamental change in the attitudes of intellectuals. It will slowly strip away the selfish hoarding of intellectual capital to reveal the vast mutual benefits of shared learning and understanding through technology. To understand this cultural shift, we must look at the roots of Western “intellectual capitalism” and their formulation in the Renaissance era.
The Renaissance Ideal of the omniscient intellectual is known as the “Renaissance Man”. This man was expected to have a courtly facade masking any potential inner turmoil or vigorous thought. This man, as Baldassare Castiglione puts it, has “a certain nonchalance, so as to conceal all art and make whatever one does or says appear to be without effort and almost without any thought about it”. This practiced grace and concealed thought adds an air of effortlessness to his accomplishments. This facade has largely been maintained by the elite and carried into the late 20th century.
In our modern society this facade, or “Sprezzatura” in Italian, shown by the affluent, knowledgeable and talented can be discouraging to others. It creates a schism between seeing an accomplishment and understanding it. To the average man, it supposes that skills come much more naturally to the polymath where the average man must think through, practice and cultivate these skills. This gives the average man a complex and he comes to believe that the polymath merely flows with life and knowledge in a more natural way than he does. He feels crippled by his lack of natural talent and ability. This Sprezzatura masks the trials, mistakes, and practices of the polymath. His hard work and personal struggles are concealed and their wisdom lost.
The Book of the Courtier
By my own experience I have always reflexively eschewed the Sprezzatura, striving instead for openness. I believe the human mind must always be open and the modern man must display the willingness to constantly be in both a state of prideless teaching and shameless learning. This is my personal prophecy for the modern man must contend he is the prototypical “man of the future” lest he lose the will to live into it.
I am not alone as the world is moving in this direction. In the information age we have naturally opened ourselves, and our methods, up to the world. Internet based open discussion through Blogging, Microblogging (Twitter) and public comments on everything from articles to video broadcasts has married transparency and accountability to debate like never before. Many social walls have been broken down in this process and people now see the benefits of expressing themselves openly. Pioneers besides Wikipedia include MIT with their OpenCourseWare system and the myriad of private companies who subscribe to the model of open-source community driven software development. These beliefs have seeped into our common culture and, as technology becomes more advanced, they will become more prevalent.
Through this lens we catch a glimpse of the prototypical “Man of the Future”. This 21st century Renaissance man will pride himself on openness, clear thought and explanation. He will take pleasure in teaching others his skills and crafts. He will speak slowly, thoroughly, and accurately. He will be quick to admit his own lack of knowledge for he knows that the opportunity of identifying one’s own intellectual weakness is an opportunity to learn. This new man will reveal all artistic methods with a fiery enthusiasm. This cannot be confused with overthought or dwelling. The classic facade of the Sprezzatura will be removed, revealing the precious systems of logic used to improve the self.
This breakthrough to involuntary openness and intellectual generosity will fuel the creativity and zest for life of the intellectually discouraged and downtrodden. Knowing their peers’ grace is not primordial but learned, attempted and labored over will embolden those who could not see through the Sprezzatura. This is the essence of the “Second Renaissance”.
