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  %DIFFERENT KINDS KNOWLEDGE UNDERSTAND USE CONTROL 901020

     (1)   First:  It is important to recognize that there
are  different    kinds   of   information,      knowledge
and understanding.

     There   is information,   knowledge and understanding
which   involves    in   essential   ways     quantitative
considerations.   Other  kinds of information,   knowledge
and   understanding  involve in essential  ways  affective
considerations.    There  are   many  different  kinds  of
considerations   which  may   be  essential     to    many
different   kinds    of   information,   knowledge  and/or
understanding:    quantitative,   affective,  ideological,
intentional, expectational, fearful, hopeful, adorational,
allegorical,      mythic,     prayerful,      integrative,
manipulative, managerial, etc.

     It   is  dangerous  to  systematically  exclude   any
particular  kind   of   consideration   when  seeking   to
acquire   and/or preserve information,   knowledge  and/or
understanding.

     (2)   Second:  It is also important to recognize that
each  kind  of information,   knowledge and  understanding
may  be valuable for a different kind of reason.

     Quantitative    considerations   are  valuable   when
seeking   to predict  the consequences of setting  objects
in    motion    in   some   particular   way.    Affective
considerations  are valuable when  seeking  to  understand
in  a deeply personal way  the possible   consequences  of
initiating  particular   kinds  of personal   associations
and   relationships.      Integrative considerations   are
important   when  seeking  to  avoid  tragic  courses   of
events.   The value of a kind of  information,   knowledge
and/or  understanding depends upon the  kind  of situation
and/or   environmental   change  which  is   being  faced:
objective,      subjective,      reflexive,      personal,
corporate, private, communal, spiritual, technical, etc.

     It    is   dangerous  to  systematically  under-value
any  particular    kind   of   information,      knowledge
and/or  understanding---when   seeking to acquire   and/or
preserve information, knowledge and/or understanding.

     (3)  Third:  It is also important to recognize that a
failure to  participate in the above kinds of  recognition
may   be  part   of  the  design and fabric of  a  twisted
pattern  of collusive games of mutual self deception.

     Systematic   patterns  of  behavior   serve   various
purposes.    One of  the  dangerous  purposes  which   any
systematic  pattern   of  behavior  may  serve,    is  the
purpose of  repressing  truth about  dishonesty.   Another
dangerous   purpose   which  a systematic    pattern    of
behavior    may    serve    is    the  manipulative    and
insensitive  control  of  personal  behavior  of  self  or
others.

     When    efforts    to   acquire    and/or    preserve
information,  knowledge and/or understanding are dominated
by  dangerous and  disintegrative  purposes,    the  range
of     kinds    of   information,      knowledge    and/or
understanding   which  are acquired  and/or  preserved  is
likely  to  be  excessively narrow;   and so is inadequate
to facilitate wise responses to probable situations and/or
changes in the various kinds of environment.

     (4)  Fourth:  It is also important to recognize  that
each of the above kinds of recognitions may be independent
of  the others, and of this following kind.

     It  is dangerous to treat different realities  as  if
they are the  same  kind  of  reality.   It is   dangerous
to   treat different  kinds  of recognition as if they are
the   same  kind  of  recognition.    The dangers of  such
failures  of recognition  and treatment are not evident to
people   who  are   trapped  in   systematically    narrow
perspectives,   attitudes,     assumptions,    affections,
dispositions,  and intentions.

     The   kinds   of   information,    knowledge   and/or
understanding which prevail in a community/culture depends
upon   what   perspectives,    attitudes,     assumptions,
affections,  dispositions, intentions, purposes,  desires,
hopes,   aspirations,   and  their like --- prevail in the
community/culture.   When any narrow,   systematic  and/or
formal    set    of    considerations   prevail    in    a
community/culture;   it is natural that a  correspondingly
narrow  set  of kinds of  information,   knowledge  and/or
understanding  will  prevail  as a result of  a  selective
pattern of seeking and preserving. When essential kinds of
information,  knowledge and understanding are excluded  by
any    narrow,    systematic   and/or   formal   set    of
considerations;   the ultimate consequences are tragically
disintegrative   to   the  community  and   its   culture.
Pretending otherwise with great beliefs, convictions,  and
sacrificial efforts --- will not make it be otherwise.

                                                                                                                               
                         (c) 2005 by Paul A. Smith in      
                    (On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy)  
                                                                                                                               
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