an online book by David Gurteen
Pragmatism is a philosophical tradition that views language and thought as tools for prediction, problem solving, and action, rather than describing, representing, or mirroring reality. Pragmatists contend that most philosophical topics—such as the nature of knowledge, language, concepts, meaning, belief, and science—are best viewed in terms of their practical uses and successes.
Pragmatism began in the United States in the 1870s. Its origins are often attributed to philosophers Charles Sanders Peirce, William James and John Dewey. In 1878, Peirce described it in his pragmatic maxim: "Consider the practical effects of the objects of your conception. Then, your conception of those effects is the whole of your conception of the object."
Credit: Wikipedia - pragmatismKnowledge Management should be focused on real, tangible intractable problems not aspirational goals. It should deal pragmatically with the evolutionary possibilities of the present rather than seeking idealistic solutions. | Dave Snowden Continue reading Knowledge Management Should Deal with the Evolutionary Possibilities of the Present Dave Snowden
A real society comprises hundreds of millions of social beings, each with a trillion-synapse brain, who pursue their well-being while affecting the well-being of others in complex networks with massive positive and negative externalities, many of them historically unprecedented. It is bound to defy any simple narrative of what will happen under a … | Steven Pinker Continue reading A Rational Approach to Politics Is to Treat Societies as Ongoing Experiments Steven Pinker
I felt that politics at its best is a practical activity, not an ideology — a continual exercise of compassion, and grip, and competence, trying as best as you can to do a dozen small things for each problem in turn. | Rory Stewart Continue reading Politics at Its Best Is a Practical Activity Rory Stewart
Organizations often talk about Knowledge Management as if it’s a goal in itself. Treating KM as a separate initiative distracts from actual business needs and outcomes. Real value comes from using KM tools and methods to solve business problems and pursue opportunities that matter. Continue reading Don’t Do Knowledge Management You respond to business problems & develop business opportunities using KM tools
