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This knowledge base is intended as a map or a guide to human knowledge. One of the consequences of the modern explosion of knowledge and literature is that it is very difficult to be well informed and impossible to be expert in everything it may be necessary to know in today's society. In many areas, it takes long years of specialist training to even be able to read what has been written, let alone ask new questions. Modern educational systems are to a large extent geared toward preparation of specialists. Yet the human desire for knowledge and understanding often cannot be confined within specialist boundaries. The physicist with an interest in Mayan hieroglyphics, the farmer who mounts a GPS receiver on his tractor, the author of fiction who discusses public policy, and the parents of a child with a rare disease, to name only a few of the many possible examples, need access to knowledge that is considered to belong to entirely different specialties. |
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Although there are many compilations of knowledge, such as encyclopedias, directories, guides, and search engines, most of these tend to present information in isolated lumps, rather like giving the name and address of some location in a distant city. An address alone, as most tourists can testify, can be useless without familiarity with the local geography. This knowledge base, then, is an attempt at providing a large scale map of human knowledge. Information on this site is generally organized by topic, and arranged roughly in increasing order of complexity. Alphabetical order is used only sparingly, for directories and guides. The use of hyperlinks and the web makes it easy to either focus out on a broad overview or in on fine detail. It also permits exploration of topics from many points of view, and shows cross-links and interconnections between different areas. This site is intended to be useful for those self-motivated people who wish to direct their own education, starting from what they are already familiar with. Please explore and browse. Changes to this top level page will be infrequent, but development and improvement of the site is continually in progress. Please check back from time to time to see whether it has more information on your particular interests. Updates are now being summarized in the what's new page. If you do not find what you are looking for, find mistakes and errors, or would like to comment or contribute, please visit the Independent Learning Forum. Be sapient! |
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The most basic area of study is the physical and natural sciences. Physics includes the laws and regularities of nature. Chemistry has to do with particular substances and the changes they may undergo. Astronomy deals with objects visible above the earth. Earth science is the study of the nonliving earth. Biology is the study of life and living things.
The next step in increasing complexity is the examination of human beings on the level of individuals. These studies include the structure and functioning of the human body. The examination of the human mind and behavior in psychology builds on this foundation. Biography is the examination of particular individuals.
The examination of people in groups at a basic level common to all human societies is at a higher level of complexity. Social fundamentals deals with how people interact with one another, and create social groups. Demography is concerned with population dize, structure, and growth and decline. Physical anthropology is concerned with human origins, human variation, and dispersion. human ecology is concerned with how people affected by natural events, how they relate to other life, and how the influence it. Human geography is concerned with the demography, physical anthropology, and human ecology of specific places. Particular groups is concerned with named groups of people in a manner analogous to biography.
Products of human activity are divided somewhat artificially into three divisions, corresponding to things, ideas, and activities. Material culture includes discussion of manmade objects and artifacts such as foodstuffs, clothing, buildings, vehicles, communication devices, tools, and so forth. Conceptual culture incudes discussion of language, graphic arts, literature, mathematics, applied science, and philosophy. Behavioral culture includes discussion of customs, occupations, parforming arts, games, and events.
Social scientists have identified five major social institutions that appear to be present in all societies. These include families, education, economics, government, and religion.
Societies are composed of groups of people, cultures, and institutions. General principles are given in social structure and change. Particular communities are so far limited to the largest cities in the world. Information on particular peoples of the world, including nations and civilizations, is also included here.
The History section gives a broad outline of world history and a little information on major events. Prehistory includes the earliest known beginnings of human society, to 5000 BC. Antiquity includes the rise of the great civilizations of the Middle East, including Mesopotamians, Egyptians, and Persians as the best known examples. Classical and Medieval history includes the origin of modern world religions, and a variety of other civilizations, including Greeks, Romans, the origins of modern Western nations, Indians, and Chinese. Modern history includes the worldwide expansion and influence of Western civilization. The future is largely speculative, but is also considered.