Length: 400 words
Knowledge Commons – What benefits can result from expanding the Knowledge Commons, What detriments?
Please explore the Knowledge Commons opportunities with the Digital Internet Environment.
Materials:
Hess Charlotte and Ostrum, Elinor (2006) Introduction: An Overview of the Knowledge Commons. In Understanding Knowledge as a Commons
Authors explore knowledge with “a new way of looking at knowledge as a shared resource, a complex ecosystem that is a commons—a resource shared by a group of people that is subject to social dilemmas. The traditional study of knowledge is subdivided into epistemic areas of interests. Law professors argue the legal aspects of knowledge in regard to intellectual property rights. Economists consider efficiency and transaction costs of information. Philosophers grapple with epistemology. Librarians and information scientists deal with the collection, classification, organization, and enduring access of published information. Sociologists examine behaviors of virtual communities. Physical scientists study natural laws.” p3
Authors focus on digital age issues shared by all knowledge forms with the purpose to illustrate some of the benefits of a multilayered multidisciplinary approach to the “knowledge commons ecosystem”. Authors define the challenge to enhance production, access, use, and preservation of diverse knowledge commons in the market economy driven commodification environment.
