Anyone seeking a better life through increased knowledge is part of the knowledge era. The subject of Knowledgism derives from the coming era. It is not just a spiritual philosophy, hopefully it includes the mastery of all subjects that greatly enhances life for each of us. WHAT IS KNOWLEDGISM? Knowledgism is the high-tech, high-touch use of knowledge systems, processes and procedures to optimize economies, societies, areas, subjects, objects, groups, and individuals, and to help their utilization's, quality and viability for the greatest good of all. It is based on win-win accomplishment for all, and includes that which is best from past systems. As Knowledgism expands it will cross national boundaries and those of race, color, and creed. A Knowledgist studies, practices and applies knowledge for the greatest good of everyone. Knowledge has become not only the power of today's society, but the basis for survival in the future. In the coming years, the rewards for being knowledgeable will be vast; the penalties for ignorance, severe. http://www.knowledgism.com/know.html THE KNOWLEDGE ERA 8000 YEARS OF MOSTLY-FORWARD PROGRESS An evolution of paradigms is always in progress. Those who stay on top of the changes find themselves in the right place at the right time, changing to new paradigms as old ones become less viable. Those who cannot keep up with the change, or who have a vested interest in the old ways, fight and oppose change and get left behind. The first trend on the chart is the Evolution of Knowledge Cycles. This trend shows the learning paradigm shifts that mankind has gone through. The period from 6000 B.C. to 400 A.D. was the basic Warrior Era where man, nations, groups, and relationships were alternately conquered, dominated, subjugated, and forced to comply with the will of others. This was the prevailing paradigm of the day. The years from 400 A.D. to 1000 A.D. were the Dark Ages. Man lost his desire to learn and opposed knowledge. This was a time of paradigm crash. "It wasn't until a thousand years later that we find 'reckoning masters' teaching pupils bound for commercial careers." THE LITERACY ERA The years from 1000 A.D. to the present are the Literacy Era. Another paradigm shift took place during this time as an almost world-wide activity of learning to read, write, and do arithmetic was being pursued. In less than 1000 years, a major period of paradigm upgrading, man has seen his entire universe shift to higher and higher levels of survival and abundance. His life span has almost doubled. Food, shelter, and basic survival needs are more than adequate for 90% of the literate nations' populations. THE KNOWLEDGE ERA With knowledge the primary source of power, the 1990's and the 21st century will become the Knowledge Era. Today, with our ability to record knowledge and skills on a memory chip, the innovation of smart, skilled machines will revolutionize the industrial countries. It's entirely possible that by the year 2020, we could see the type of change in industry that occurred in agriculture, leaving only a few percent producing what 90% had produced previously. What will this mean for you? What will you need to know and be in order to stay in the mainstream and keep winning? How can you benefit from the changes to improve your success, prosperity, and happiness? Obviously, the technological elite, as well as people-handling skills (not just for the sick and elderly but for the young and able), will be in great demand. As we move into the Knowledge Era, the successful paradigms will be knowledge-based. http://www.knowledgism.com/trends.html DEFINITIONS OF KEY WORDS: Main Entry: knowl·edge Pronunciation: 'nä-lij Function: noun Etymology: Middle English knowlege, from knowlechen to acknowledge, irregular from knowen Date: 14th century 1 obsolete : COGNIZANCE 2 a (1) : the fact or condition of knowing something with familiarity gained through experience or association (2) : acquaintance with or understanding of a science, art, or technique b (1) : the fact or condition of being aware of something (2) : the range of one's information or understanding c : the circumstance or condition of apprehending truth or fact through reasoning : COGNITION d : the fact or condition of having information or of being learned 3 archaic : SEXUAL INTERCOURSE 4 a : the sum of what is known : the body of truth, information, and principles acquired by mankind b archaic : a branch of learning synonyms KNOWLEDGE, LEARNING, ERUDITION, SCHOLARSHIP mean what is or can be known by an individual or by mankind. KNOWLEDGE applies to facts or ideas acquired by study, investigation, observation, or experience . LEARNING applies to knowledge acquired especially through formal, often advanced, schooling . ERUDITION strongly implies the acquiring of profound, recondite, or bookish learning . SCHOLARSHIP implies the possession of learning characteristic of the advanced scholar in a specialized field of study or investigation . Main Entry: -ism Function: noun suffix Etymology: Middle English -isme, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French, partly from Latin -isma (from Gk) & partly from Latin -ismus, from Greek -ismos; Greek -isma & -ismos, from verbs in -izein -ize 1 a : act : practice : process b : manner of action or behavior characteristic of a (specified) person or thing c : prejudice or discrimination on the basis of a (specified) attribute 2 a : state : condition : property b : abnormal state or condition resulting from excess of a (specified) thing or marked by resemblance to (such) a person or thing 3 a : doctrine : theory : cult b : adherence to a system or a class of principles 4 : characteristic or peculiar feature or trait Main Entry: -ist Function: noun suffix Etymology: Middle English -iste, from Old French & Latin; Old French -iste, from Latin -ista, -istes, from Greek -istEs, from verbs in -izein -ize 1 a : one that performs a (specified) action : one that makes or produces a (specified) thing b : one that plays a (specified) musical instrument c : one that operates a (specified) mechanical instrument or contrivance 2 : one that specializes in a (specified) art or science or skill 3 : one that adheres to or advocates a (specified) doctrine or system or code of behavior or that of a (specified) individual A CORRECT SEQUENCE OF LEARNING No matter what subject or discipline you seek to master and become knowledgeable about, you tend to follow this pathway. It can be long or relatively short. Usually it depends on what level of excellence, quality, application or degree of mastery you seek to attain. The sequence goes something like this: 1. No previous contact, awareness or connection to a subject or area. You are completely separate from. Main Entry: 1sep·a·rate Pronunciation: 'se-p(&-)"rAt Function: verb Inflected Form(s): -rat·ed; -rat·ing Etymology: Middle English, from Latin separatus, past participle of separare, from se- apart + parare to prepare, procure -- more at SECEDE, PARE Date: 15th century transitive senses 1 a : to set or keep apart : DISCONNECT, SEVER b : to make a distinction between : DISCRIMINATE, DISTINGUISH c : SORT d : to disperse in space or time : SCATTER 2 archaic : to set aside for a special purpose : CHOOSE, DEDICATE 3 : to part by a legal separation: a : to sever conjugal ties with b : to sever contractual relations with : DISCHARGE 4 : to block off : SEGREGATE 5 a : to isolate from a mixture : EXTRACT b : to divide into constituent parts 6 : to dislocate (as a shoulder) especially in sports intransitive senses 1 : to become divided or detached 2 a : to sever an association : WITHDRAW b : to cease to live together as a married couple 3 : to go in different directions 4 : to become isolated from a mixture synonyms SEPARATE, PART, DIVIDE, SEVER, SUNDER, DIVORCE mean to become or cause to become disunited or disjointed. SEPARATE may imply any of several causes such as dispersion, removal of one from others, or presence of an intervening thing . PART implies the separating of things or persons in close union or association . DIVIDE implies separating into pieces or sections by cutting or breaking . SEVER implies violence especially in the removal of a part or member . SUNDER suggests violent rending or wrenching apart . DIVORCE implies separating two things that commonly interact and belong together . 2. No interest or still to unfamiliar with the subjects or areas value or importance. So it is ignored. Main Entry: ig·nore Pronunciation: ig-'nOr, -'nor Function: transitive verb Inflected Form(s): ig·nored; ig·nor·ing Etymology: obsolete ignore to be ignorant of, from French ignorer, from Latin ignorare, from ignarus ignorant, unknown, from in- + gnoscere, noscere to know -- more at KNOW Date: 1801 1 : to refuse to take notice of 2 : to reject (a bill of indictment) as ungrounded synonym see NEGLECT - ig·nor·able /-'nOr-&-b&l, -'nor-/ adjective - ig·nor·er noun 3. You begin to get a little aware or interest in the subject or area. So you buy a book or attend some form of introduction to the subject or area. Main Entry: be·gin·ner Pronunciation: bi-'gi-n&r Function: noun Date: 14th century : one that begins something; especially : an inexperienced person 4. Your interest, value and recognition of the importance of the subject or area undergoes a shift. You enrol in a course of study. Main Entry: stu·dent Pronunciation: 'stü-d&nt, 'styü-, chiefly Southern -d&nt Function: noun Usage: often attributive Etymology: Middle English, from Latin student-, studens, from present participle of studEre to study -- more at STUDY Date: 14th century 1 : SCHOLAR, LEARNER; especially : one who attends a school 2 : one who studies : an attentive and systematic observer 5. You become an apprentice. This is a vital yet often ommited step. A good apprenticeship allows you to not know about a subject or area. It allows you to make mistakes without undue punishment. Main Entry: 1ap·pren·tice Pronunciation: &-'pren-t&s Function: noun Etymology: Middle English aprentis, from Middle French, from Old French, from aprendre to learn, from Latin apprendere, apprehendere Date: 14th century 1 a : one bound by indenture to serve another for a prescribed period with a view to learning an art or trade b : one who is learning by practical experience under skilled workers a trade, art, or calling 2 : an inexperienced person : NOVICE - ap·pren·tice·ship /-t&(sh)-"ship, -t&s-"ship/ noun 6. You reach for a higher level of competance. You serve an internship. Main Entry: 3in·tern Variant(s): also in·terne /'in-"t&rn/ Function: noun Etymology: French interne, from interne, adjective Date: circa 1879 : an advanced student or graduate usually in a professional field (as medicine or teaching) gaining supervised practical experience (as in a hospital or classroom) - in·tern·ship /-"ship/ noun 7. You can now be employed, though your knowledge and mastery will be very limited. You are a journeyman. Main Entry: jour·ney·man Pronunciation: -m&n Function: noun Etymology: Middle English, from journey journey, a day's labor + man Date: 15th century 1 : a worker who has learned a trade and works for another person usually by the day 2 : an experienced reliable worker or performer especially as distinguished from one who is brilliant or colorful 8. You seek even higher degrees of excellence. You become a craftsman. Main Entry: crafts·man Pronunciation: 'kraf(t)s-m&n Function: noun Date: 13th century 1 : a worker who practices a trade or handicraft 2 : one who creates or performs with skill or dexterity especially in the manual arts - crafts·man·like /-"lIk/ adjective - crafts·man·ly /-lE/ adjective - crafts·man·ship /-"ship/ noun 9. As your knowledge, experience and mastery increases, you become a master. Main Entry: mas·tery Pronunciation: 'mas-t(&-)rE Function: noun Etymology: Middle English maistrie, from Old French, from maistre master Date: 13th century 1 a : the authority of a master : DOMINION b : the upper hand in a contest or competition : SUPERIORITY, ASCENDANCY 2 a : possession or display of great skill or technique b : skill or knowledge that makes one master of a subject : COMMAND By following these sequences, almost anyone can rise to mastery over a subject or area. It is by following these basic sequences that any country, group or individual can cause a better life or better civilization to come into being. Alan -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Homer Wilson Smith News, Web, Telnet Art Matrix - Lightlink (607) 277-0959 E-mail, FTP, Shell Internet Access, Ithaca NY homer@lightlink.com info@lightlink.com http://www.lightlink.com