Berkman seminar: Web of ideas
I’m leading the first in a series of open discussions at the Berkman Center this Wednesday at 6pm. You’re invited. Here’s the blurb the Center sent out:
Join us on Wednesday, Oct. 6, at the Berkman Center [Baker House, on Mass Ave. in Cambridge] at 6 pm for the first in a series of discussions, led by David Weinberger, on the effect of the Web on how we understand ourselves and our shared world. Each session will begin with a 20 minute discussion-opener, followed by open conversation. (Food will be provided.)
Oct. 6th topic: Objectivity, Truth and Blogs
Wikipedia.org — the grassroots encyclopedia — has frozen edits to the page about George W. Bush because supporters and detractors were revising the page at a head-spinning clip. Wikipedia’s aim is to present an article that contains the core of acknowledged facts about the President, with links to pages that argue many sides of the issue. This assumes that there is an objective core, an idea that dedicated Post-Modernists would dispute. For the rest of us it raises interesting questions about the Web’s effect on authority. Is the multiplicity of voices on the Web in fact leading us to a stronger division between fact and opinion than ever before, rather than the fusing of fact and values some have expected? And is authority moving to groups instead of to individuals? Are we seeing the development of “multi-subjectivity,” that is, webs of subjective commentary that, because of their diverse viewpoints, can “compete for truth” with objective sources. What’s the locus of truth on the Web?
Categories: Uncategorized dw
“For the rest of us it raises interesting questions about the printing press’s effect on authority. Is the multiplicity of voices enabled by the printing press in fact leading us to a stronger division between fact and opinion than ever before, rather than the fusing of fact and values some have expected? And is authority moving to groups instead of to individuals? Are we seeing the development of “multi-subjectivity,” that is, alliances of subjective commentary that, because of their diverse viewpoints, can “compete for truth” with objective sources. What’s the locus of truth in paperspace?”
Sounds fascinating! :-)
(no offense intended)
See PHONECON
Man, Beat’d do just about anything for a free sandwich, chips, and a pickle! Dang, I gotta work til 7 that night. Do it with breakfast on a Sunday morning, and Beat’l be there–for sure!
Ride On The Peace Train!
A lot of people are pointing out the Bush page as a perfect example of what’s wrong with a wiki encyclopedia. To me, it indicates exactly what’s right about it. After all, the man IS highly controversial. Any informational source about him that didn’t reflect that would be highly suspect. And anyway, it’s really too soon for any kind of historical pronouncement to be made about him. Any encyclopedia-type information source which had a concrete entry in it about him gives a false impression otherwise.
how about?
George Walker Bush (b. July 6, 1946 — )
George W. Bush was the 43rd President of the United States. His four-year term as President began on January 20, 2001. In 1994 he ran for a second term.
See alternate versions of his resume [linked — yeah, you know which two versions I’m referring to].
See related websites [linked, and make sure PNAC is on there].
END
ever hopeful…