The structuring of knowledge

The structuring of knowledge has become a challenging issue because of the segmentation and specialization of our intellectual base due to a flood of information. Currently, there are more than 3,000 papers about sustainability and sustainable development, a quantity beyond our capacity to read so as to grasp the overall structure of sustainability science. And the number of papers continues to grow exponentially. But such concerns are nothing new, and indeed they were articulated in the 1960s by De Solla Price (1963). The increase in the amount of knowledge itself is not problematic, because knowledge is the driver that advances our society and civilization. But it is also a fact that we feel overwhelmed and frustrated by the lack of a comprehensive view. It is no exaggeration to say that, these days, we are drowning in a sea of information as we look for knowledge.

Related Subject(s): Environment and Climate Change