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Knowing What We Know: The Transmission of Knowledge from Ancient Wisdom to Modern Magic
by Simon Winchester
- New
- Condition
- New
- ISBN 10
- 0008484384
- ISBN 13
- 9780008484385
- Seller
-
Southport, Merseyside, United Kingdom
10 Copies Available from This Seller
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About This Item
New. <p> <strong>From the creation of the first encyclopedia to Wikipedia, from ancient museums to modern kindergarten classesâhere is award-winning writer Simon Winchesterâs brilliant and all-encompassing look at how humans acquire, retain, and pass on information and data, and how technology continues to change our lives and our minds.</strong> </p> <p>With the advent of the internet, any topic we want to know about is instantly available with the touch of a smartphone button. With so much knowledge at our fingertips, what is there left for our brains to do? At a time when we seem to be stripping all value from the idea of knowing things â no need for maths, no need for map reading, no need for memorisation â are we risking our ability to think? As we empty our minds, will we one day be incapable of thoughtfulness?</p> <p>Addressing these questions, Simon Winchester explores how humans have attained, stored and disseminated knowledge. Examining such disciplines as education, journalism, encyclopedia creation, museum curation, photography and broadcasting, he looks at a whole range of knowledge diffusion â from the cuneiform writings of Babylon to the machine-made genius of artificial intelligence, by way of Gutenberg, Google and Wikipedia to the huge Victorian assemblage of the Mundaneum, the collection of everything ever known, currently stored in a damp basement in northern Belgium.</p> <p>Studded with strange and fascinating details,<em> Knowing What We Know</em> is a deep dive into learning and the human mind. Throughout this fascinating tour, Winchester forces us to ponder what rational humans are becoming. What good is all this knowledge if it leads to lack of thought? What is information without wisdom? Does René Descartesâ â<em>Cogito, ergo sum</em>ââ'I think, therefore I amâ, the foundation for human knowledge widely accepted since the Enlightenmentâstill hold?</p> <p>And what will the world be like if no one in it is wise?</p>
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Details
- Bookseller
- The Saint Bookstore (GB)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- A9780008484385
- Title
- Knowing What We Know: The Transmission of Knowledge from Ancient Wisdom to Modern Magic
- Author
- Simon Winchester
- Book Condition
- New
- Quantity Available
- 10
- ISBN 10
- 0008484384
- ISBN 13
- 9780008484385
Terms of Sale
The Saint Bookstore
Refunds or Returns: A full refund of the price paid will be given if returned within 30 days in undamaged condition. If the product is faulty, we may send a replacement.
About the Seller
The Saint Bookstore
Biblio member since 2018
Southport, Merseyside
About The Saint Bookstore
The Saint Bookstore specialises in hard to find titles & also offers delivery worldwide for reasonable rates.