Second-Hand Knowledge: An Inquiry into Cognitive Authority (Contributions in Librarianship and Information Science)

Features

• Cover Type: Hard Cover with 211 pages
• Published by: Greenwood Press August 24, 1983
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 0313237638
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0313237638
• Book Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.5 x 0.8 inches
• Weighs: 14.1 ounces

Product Review
“This is an immensely readable, articulate work on `social epistemology,' on how one acquires secondhand knowledge (not gained by experience but told to us) by an appeal to cognitive authorities. The author first analyzes cognitive authority as it is generated in indiviudals, its degrees and spheres, and ambiguous relation to experitse. His next concern is the knowledge industry. His final concern is with the thorny issue of quality control in information retrieval. Of the available texts, which is the authoritative one? The author is a stimulating, erudite iconoclast. The book is essential reading for anyone interested in the quality of information, its illusion, elusiveness, and communication, in the so-called information society. On the basis of the plausibility and breadth of resources, it is a cognitive authority on cognitive authority. Highly recommended for academic and public libraries.”–Library Journal

Publisher Description
This is an immensely readable, articulate work on `social epistemology,' on how one acquires secondhand knowledge (not gained by experience but told to us) by an appeal to cognitive authorities. The author first analyzes cognitive authority as it is generated in indiviudals, its degrees and spheres, and ambiguous relation to experitse. His next concern is the knowledge industry. His final concern is with the thorny issue of quality control in information retrieval. Of the available texts, which is the authoritative one? The author is a stimulating, erudite iconoclast. The book is essential reading for anyone interested in the quality of information, its illusion, elusiveness, and communication, in the so-called information society. On the basis of the plausibility and breadth of resources, it is a cognitive authority on cognitive authority. Highly recommended for academic and public libraries.

Reader Reviews
Second-Hand Knowledge: An Inquiry into Cognitive Authority (Contributions in Librarianship and Information Science) Primary knowledge, the things we know because we have personally experienced and/or verified them, accounts for a tiny sum of what we believe to be true. Most of what we 'know' we accept as true based on some form of proxy authority. This excellent, though dense, work discusses quite comprehensively and understandably the various ways and varying degrees in which we elevate 'second hand knowledge' to fact. Absolutely worth reading.