[FRIAM] knowing

[Prof David West]

A common thread — or imagined connection — in my recent reading concerns the "unknowable."  Examples include Cantor's Absolute, God, Infinity/Infinitesimal, the Soul, Gnosticism; and somewhat related notions like being a polymath or "genius." The latter comes from readings about Steve Jobs.

The genius/polymath connection is a state of mind where you can "see" holistically but non consciously, a gestalt and from that 'point of view' able to make correct/optimal/appropriate decisions based on incomplete and conflicting information.

The other 'unknowables' are also 'wholes' that can be grasped/comprehended/known only as a whole. You cannot arrive at such an understanding via the typical rational/scientific/logical positivist approach to learning and knowing. Knowledge of such things comes only via "mysticism" e.g. enlightenment.

The assertions about how you might come to know such wholes are not exclusively from mystics. Cantor, for example, seemed to believe (others know him far better than I and might correct me here) that you could "know" the Absolute, you just could not 'come to know' by accreting and integrating parts into the whole - i.e. "rationally."

A lot has been written about procedures to train yourself to be open to and accepting of moments of holistic, mystical, insight/enlightenment. Other, semi-practical, descriptions of 'pre-conditions' to be satisfied if one is to be a Job's type 'genius' or what the business press calls a modern polymath — i.e. conversant in multiple disciplines / areas of knowledge with variable deep knowledge among several; all with a semi or non-conscious integrative layer.

It is also possible to find ideas philosophies of education that attempt to focus on how to acquire / impart this kind of polymathic/integrative/holistic mindset (state of mind).

All this leads to some related questions: 1) would there be sufficient practical value from having a large cadre of "modern polymaths" / inciteful "geniuses" such that a significant portion of our educational system would be devoted to the enculturation (not education) of that cadre; 2) should a role in governance of any type at any level be restricted to members of that cadre (variation of Plato's philosopher kings); and, could people be guided/enculturated to have the ability to "know" "unknowable" things like Cantor's Absolute?

Idle raving on a Tuesday morning while I am supposed to be writing a book chapter on software development. Excuse all the quotes and parends — vocabulary is difficult for me in this realm.

davew