Second-hand knowledge cover

Second-hand knowledge

by Wilson, Patrick

"This is an immensely readable, articulate work on social epistemology, ' on how one acquires secondhand knowledge (not gained by experience but told to us) by an appeal to cognitive authorities. The author first analyzes cognitive authority as it is generated in indiviudals, its degrees and spheres, and ambiguous relation to experitse. His next concern is the knowledge industry.... His final concern is with the thorny issue of quality control in information retrieval. Of the available texts, which is the authoritative one? ... The author is a stimulating, erudite iconoclast. The book is essential reading for anyone interested in the quality of information, its illusion, elusiveness, and communication, in the so-called information society. On the basis of the plausibility and breadth of resources, it is a cognitive authority on cognitive authority. Highly recommended for academic and public libraries."-Library Journal

Chappie’s discussion starters

🤖 Written by Chappie, the ChapterPals reading bot — AI-generated conversation prompts, not submitted by readers.

  1. Which character stayed with you after you turned the last page, and why?
  2. Was there a moment where you disagreed with a character’s choice? What would you have done?
  3. What theme did this book keep circling back to — and did it earn its ending?
  4. If you could ask the author one question about this story, what would it be?
  5. Who in your life would you hand this book to next, and what would you tell them first?