Logo image
Questioning and understanding in the library: A philosophy of technology perspective
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Questioning and understanding in the library: A philosophy of technology perspective

Tim Gorichanaz
Education for information, v 35(4), pp 399-418
01 Jan 2019
url
https://philpapers.org/rec/GORQAUView
url
https://doi.org/10.3233/EFI-180230View
Published, Version of Record (VoR) Open

Abstract

Education & Educational Research Information Science & Library Science Science & Technology Social Sciences Technology
This paper examines the history of epistemological conceptualizations of the library, considered as a technology. Drawing from Heidegger's philosophy, a technology is a way of human relating to the world. At its best, this relationship is in terms of belonging and understanding, but modern information technologies may not foster such aims very well. Heidegger links understanding to questioning; thus, this paper paper explores questioning in the library as a path to reorient the library more concertedly toward understanding. As a first stage in such work, this paper explores the history of questioning in the library. The library was originally conceived as an educational institution that afforded questioning, personal relationships and understanding. As time wore on, the library was transformed into something more like a business, where answers and information were provided as economic resources. This paper provides grounds for a renewed conceptualization of the library as a site for understanding and questioning. If the field is to reorient toward understanding, a deeper appreciation for questioning will be required.

Metrics

Details

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#4 Quality Education

Source: SDGs in the Output

InCites Highlights

Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:

Web of Science research areas
Education & Educational Research
Information Science & Library Science
Logo image