The Theory of Knowledge Fields: A Thermodynamics Approach
The emergence of knowledge economy and knowledge management revealed the need for reconsidering the concept of knowledge in a larger framework than that created by philosophers from ancient times. While the epistemology as a theory of knowledge and justification considers knowledge as a justified tr...
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doaj-cdd630a6809342579e6d758c5bdec64a2020-11-25T00:55:54ZengMDPI AGSystems2079-89542019-03-01722010.3390/systems7020020systems7020020The Theory of Knowledge Fields: A Thermodynamics ApproachConstantin Bratianu0Ruxandra Bejinaru1UNESCO Department of Business Administration, Faculty of Business Administration, Bucharest University of Economic Studies, 010731 Bucharest, RomaniaDepartment of Management, Business Administration and Tourism, Faculty of Economic Sciences and Public Administration, University “Stephen the Great” of Suceava, 720229 Suceava, RomaniaThe emergence of knowledge economy and knowledge management revealed the need for reconsidering the concept of knowledge in a larger framework than that created by philosophers from ancient times. While the epistemology as a theory of knowledge and justification considers knowledge as a justified true belief, experts in knowledge management consider knowledge as a strategic resource. The new economic interpretation of knowledge as a strategic resource and a key contributor to achieving a competitive advantage generated a search of new metaphors to supply the attributes needed in constructing the new framework of understanding and operating with a working concept of knowledge in management. The most widespread knowledge metaphors are based on analogies with stocks, flows, and stock-and-flows. These metaphors induce, beyond some useful attributes, the Newtonian mechanics paradigm which is limited by the properties of linear spaces and reversible processes. The purpose of this paper is to show how we can enrich the theory of knowledge by introducing the concepts of knowledge fields and knowledge dynamics based on metaphorical thinking and the thermodynamics principles. The focus of our research is the energy metaphor which considers energy as a source semantic field. The main outcome of the present research is that knowledge can be considered as a field, which is manifesting in different forms like energy. This thermodynamics framework opens new directions for research in knowledge management, decision-making and leadership.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-8954/7/2/20knowledge managementknowledge metaphorsknowledge fieldsknowledge dynamicsthermodynamics |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Constantin Bratianu Ruxandra Bejinaru |
spellingShingle |
Constantin Bratianu Ruxandra Bejinaru The Theory of Knowledge Fields: A Thermodynamics Approach Systems knowledge management knowledge metaphors knowledge fields knowledge dynamics thermodynamics |
author_facet |
Constantin Bratianu Ruxandra Bejinaru |
author_sort |
Constantin Bratianu |
title |
The Theory of Knowledge Fields: A Thermodynamics Approach |
title_short |
The Theory of Knowledge Fields: A Thermodynamics Approach |
title_full |
The Theory of Knowledge Fields: A Thermodynamics Approach |
title_fullStr |
The Theory of Knowledge Fields: A Thermodynamics Approach |
title_full_unstemmed |
The Theory of Knowledge Fields: A Thermodynamics Approach |
title_sort |
theory of knowledge fields: a thermodynamics approach |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Systems |
issn |
2079-8954 |
publishDate |
2019-03-01 |
description |
The emergence of knowledge economy and knowledge management revealed the need for reconsidering the concept of knowledge in a larger framework than that created by philosophers from ancient times. While the epistemology as a theory of knowledge and justification considers knowledge as a justified true belief, experts in knowledge management consider knowledge as a strategic resource. The new economic interpretation of knowledge as a strategic resource and a key contributor to achieving a competitive advantage generated a search of new metaphors to supply the attributes needed in constructing the new framework of understanding and operating with a working concept of knowledge in management. The most widespread knowledge metaphors are based on analogies with stocks, flows, and stock-and-flows. These metaphors induce, beyond some useful attributes, the Newtonian mechanics paradigm which is limited by the properties of linear spaces and reversible processes. The purpose of this paper is to show how we can enrich the theory of knowledge by introducing the concepts of knowledge fields and knowledge dynamics based on metaphorical thinking and the thermodynamics principles. The focus of our research is the energy metaphor which considers energy as a source semantic field. The main outcome of the present research is that knowledge can be considered as a field, which is manifesting in different forms like energy. This thermodynamics framework opens new directions for research in knowledge management, decision-making and leadership. |
topic |
knowledge management knowledge metaphors knowledge fields knowledge dynamics thermodynamics |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/2079-8954/7/2/20 |
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