If I may,
>Barry Mallis writes:
>
>>I kinda like those two words ["ritual knowledge"]together, Marion. . . .
>
>>Ritual knowledge is sometimes wonderful, perhaps mostly needed, to
>>counteract knowledge with no context, knowledge shorn of ethical
>>foundation and human touch. Oh that the world had access to fulfilling
>>and positive, moral and enlightening ritual knowledge!
and Marion Brady writes:
>The "ritual knowledge" I had in mind was knowledge that's passed
>along to the next generation for no reason other than than it was received
>from the previous generation, without having to meet any selection
>criteria, or fit into any sort of conceptual framework that gives it
>significance, or even meaning.
I believe I understand both gentlemen clearly. Barry seems to be speaking
of a "righteous" or "spiritual" approach to knowledge, thus ritual in a
ceremonial or glorifying, deliberate way. And Marion's intent was to
escape "traditional" knowledge, as he says, that passed down from
generation to generation without questioning, without validating the basis
for the original understanding. I think of religion, family relations,
organizational culture, inter alia, and believe how much more envigorating
it would be in organizational contexts to move from Marion's "ritual
knowledge" to Barry's "ritual knowledge." Shall we say from rote
knowledge to celebrated knowledge? From dogma to delight?
As Ever,
--Ginger Shafer The Leadership Dimension "Bringing Leadership to Life" vshafer@azstarnet.com
Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>