Look at the diagram and you discover it is simple to grasp. Each of us an arena of knowledge (the upper left hand corner). For instance, I know how to lace a shoe. This is the arena of those patterns we have learned to trust because they work.
Next come the items we know that we do not know (lower left corner). There are other ways to lace a shoe. This I know. How to lace them up in that manner I do not.
Third, are the items I do not know that I know (upper right hand corner). This can be tougher to grasp, mostly because I am describing something of which I am not aware. So, in this discussion of lacing shoes, we could say that I’ve forgotten that I could figure out how to lace shoes up in different ways if I simply sat down and became creative. Of course, the minute I figure out an alternative way to lace up a shoe, it shifts over to the Known Knowns quadrant.
Finally, there are the things I do not know and I do not know that I do not know them (lower right hand corner). Are you confused? It is okay to be confused about this corner of the diagram because we are describing not only a lack of knowledge, but a lack of awareness of that lack of knowledge. Perhaps there are other ways of fastening shoes that remain to be discovered and I’m not thinking about it at all. Now that I am, however, it shifts over to the Known Unknowns because I’m conscious of them.
Ref:http://www.permacultureactivist.net/PeterBane/PBDesigning4Change.htm
The transformative process
that moves an individual from
a state of unconscious ignorance
to one of effortless mastery
is marked by four broad stages.
The points of transition between
these stages are important for
teachers and potential teachers
to note.
1. Unconscious Ignorance:
Lacking knowledge of a subject
or subjects and unaware of
one’s own ignorance
or of the importance of that
knowledge. Regarding the global
nature of the environmental,
political, and social crisis
facing humanity, arguably
half or more of the world’s
people are uninformed, ill-informed,
or deluded. Only a few of
these are“blissfully
ignorant.” Most are
suffering as a consequence
of that crisis, but don’t
understand how or why.
The opportunity here is to
reach people through their
suffering. The remedial action
needed for growth is inspiration
and information. The result
is awakening. Writing, publishing,
public speaking, and media
work can contribute to raising
awareness. And there is an
important niche in teaching
work to be filled here. For
every design course there
need to be many newsletters
and magazines circulated,
many showings of relevant
films, and many short talks,
booths and displays in fairs,
plus radio talks and interviews,
presentations to civic groups,
and the like. This is the
ideal arena for new teachers
to enter.
2. Conscious Ignorance:
Lacking knowledge of a subject,
but aware of its importance,
and thus of the limits of
one’s knowledge. Many
people in western countries
have had enough exposure through
media and education to elements
of the crisis that they have
awakened to its importance.
Though still a minority in
society, this group constitutes
tens and probably hundreds
of millions of individuals.
Most do not yet know how they
can make a difference. This
is an important point of intervention
for permaculture. People in
this condition can be reached
through their awareness. Growth
from this stage requires study,
and in the practical arts,
training. The result is an
increase in capacity, or empowerment.
This is the group at which
the design course is aimed.
The more awakened individuals
we can train, the better chance
we have of turning history
around.
3. Conscious Knowledge:
Having knowledge of a subject,
along with the awareness of
its importance, and deliberately
working to extend that knowledge.
Those in this group are agents
for change. Awakened, inspired,
empowered, and active, they
are pioneers of a better way
of life. Numbering hundreds
of thousands to a few millions
worldwide, their need is to
contribute and to strengthen
themselves. Most are engaged
in various worthy social efforts.
This group merits support
and provides a good return
on investment of resources.
People in this group can best
be reached through their work.
There is a need to link individuals
within this group to others
in order to strengthen their
collective efforts. Growth
from this stage requires practice.
The result is mastery.
4. Effortless or “Unconscious”
Knowledge: Immersed
in a subject and skilled in
it such that exercise of that
knowledge is second nature.
Think of your own capacity
to walk or talk. Most humans
master these skills early
in life. Though most adult
humans have achieved mastery
in some areas of work, few
have mastered the knowledge
and skills required for responding
appropriately and effectively
to the global crisis. Nevertheless,
practice makes perfect, and
there is no shortage of opportunities
to apply sustainable design
to human settlements. If the
permaculture movement is understood
as a form of activism, part
of the effort to illuminate
and transform destructive
human patterns in relation
to nature and society, then
its chief role lies in helping
individuals move from stage
2 to stage 3 in the above
typology. Permaculture offers
training and thereby empowerment.
The design course is the chief
means by which this takes
place. This accords with the
principle of working where
it counts. The effort required
to awaken, inform, and inspire
vast numbers of the ignorant
unconscious is more than a
small group with limited resources
can hope to achieve directly.
But the training of large
numbers of conscious individuals
who want to learn is a task
worthy of our best efforts.
Reference :
1. http://givingproject.wordpress.com/2011/02/21/committing-yourself-to-agreement-a-little-more-humility-please/
2. http://www.permacultureactivist.net/PeterBane/PBDesigning4Change.htm
1. Unconscious Ignorance:
Lacking knowledge of a subject
or subjects and unaware of
one’s own ignorance
or of the importance of that
knowledge. Regarding the global
nature of the environmental,
political, and social crisis
facing humanity, arguably
half or more of the world’s
people are uninformed, ill-informed,
or deluded. Only a few of
these are“blissfully
ignorant.” Most are
suffering as a consequence
of that crisis, but don’t
understand how or why.
The opportunity here is to
reach people through their
suffering. The remedial action
needed for growth is inspiration
and information. The result
is awakening. Writing, publishing,
public speaking, and media
work can contribute to raising
awareness. And there is an
important niche in teaching
work to be filled here. For
every design course there
need to be many newsletters
and magazines circulated,
many showings of relevant
films, and many short talks,
booths and displays in fairs,
plus radio talks and interviews,
presentations to civic groups,
and the like. This is the
ideal arena for new teachers
to enter.
2. Conscious Ignorance:
Lacking knowledge of a subject,
but aware of its importance,
and thus of the limits of
one’s knowledge. Many
people in western countries
have had enough exposure through
media and education to elements
of the crisis that they have
awakened to its importance.
Though still a minority in
society, this group constitutes
tens and probably hundreds
of millions of individuals.
Most do not yet know how they
can make a difference. This
is an important point of intervention
for permaculture. People in
this condition can be reached
through their awareness. Growth
from this stage requires study,
and in the practical arts,
training. The result is an
increase in capacity, or empowerment.
This is the group at which
the design course is aimed.
The more awakened individuals
we can train, the better chance
we have of turning history
around.
3. Conscious Knowledge:
Having knowledge of a subject,
along with the awareness of
its importance, and deliberately
working to extend that knowledge.
Those in this group are agents
for change. Awakened, inspired,
empowered, and active, they
are pioneers of a better way
of life. Numbering hundreds
of thousands to a few millions
worldwide, their need is to
contribute and to strengthen
themselves. Most are engaged
in various worthy social efforts.
This group merits support
and provides a good return
on investment of resources.
People in this group can best
be reached through their work.
There is a need to link individuals
within this group to others
in order to strengthen their
collective efforts. Growth
from this stage requires practice.
The result is mastery.
4. Effortless or “Unconscious”
Knowledge: Immersed
in a subject and skilled in
it such that exercise of that
knowledge is second nature.
Think of your own capacity
to walk or talk. Most humans
master these skills early
in life. Though most adult
humans have achieved mastery
in some areas of work, few
have mastered the knowledge
and skills required for responding
appropriately and effectively
to the global crisis. Nevertheless,
practice makes perfect, and
there is no shortage of opportunities
to apply sustainable design
to human settlements. If the
permaculture movement is understood
as a form of activism, part
of the effort to illuminate
and transform destructive
human patterns in relation
to nature and society, then
its chief role lies in helping
individuals move from stage
2 to stage 3 in the above
typology. Permaculture offers
training and thereby empowerment.
The design course is the chief
means by which this takes
place. This accords with the
principle of working where
it counts. The effort required
to awaken, inform, and inspire
vast numbers of the ignorant
unconscious is more than a
small group with limited resources
can hope to achieve directly.
But the training of large
numbers of conscious individuals
who want to learn is a task
worthy of our best efforts.
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