tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20782819.post7368133004594689560..comments2023-11-12T13:22:30.358+01:00Comments on andrewjshields: Collective WisdomAndrew Shieldshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02804655739574694901noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20782819.post-20701262942505794662007-05-01T10:11:00.000+02:002007-05-01T10:11:00.000+02:00As I've pondered this since yesterday, the special...As I've pondered this since yesterday, the special feature of this passage to me has become the combination of the relatively simple idea that "some experiments are more fruitful than others" with the role of readers and other writers in judging which experiments are successful. It's the role of reception in the development of forms that I have not seen highlighted before.<BR/><BR/>The critique of "conventional wisdom," that is, is what ends up being focused on, and not how the experiments are subject to a long-term, collective judgment as to their success.<BR/><BR/>It also struck me that this is implicitly an evolutionary theory of forms—although it is one that has an element of intelligent design to it!<BR/><BR/>Finally, Ms. B.: be sure to credit Jane Smiley, not me, when you refer to this idea! :-)Andrew Shieldshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02804655739574694901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20782819.post-68096532881183288972007-05-01T08:09:00.000+02:002007-05-01T08:09:00.000+02:00Yay, how simple and true! Andrew, this is it - the...Yay, how simple and true! <BR/><BR/>Andrew, this is it - the thing I wish I'd thought of in a thousand conversations! I'll have it now. <BR/><BR/>Donald, that's what the final statement is about - clearly that is why people keep experimenting.Ms Baroquehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01836227454899083962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20782819.post-13153292094581652462007-05-01T04:32:00.000+02:002007-05-01T04:32:00.000+02:00Yes, true, but beware of those moments when "colle...Yes, true, but beware of those moments when "collective wisdom" slides imperceptibly into "conventional wisdom." And then we need innovation to get out of the rut.Donald Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06391024449222256377noreply@blogger.com