Optimum utilization of knowledge

The problem of optimum use of practical knowledge in different fields is addressed, focusing on the difficult assessment of "real" knowledge in policy formation. The notion of "optimum" is interpreted to imply appropriate skepticism in testing & risk evaluation, along with se...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Society (New Brunswick) 1982-11, Vol.20 (1), p.8-10
Main Author: Machlup, Fritz
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Policy/Policies
Probabilism/Probabilistic
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Summary:The problem of optimum use of practical knowledge in different fields is addressed, focusing on the difficult assessment of "real" knowledge in policy formation. The notion of "optimum" is interpreted to imply appropriate skepticism in testing & risk evaluation, along with selective decisions not to employ knowledge; the importance of negative affirmations to, eg, the economists, is affirmed, while different knowledge models are envisioned for other fields such as information science. Problems in environmental economics are cited to illustrate the difficulties in attaining the policy optimum across political, national, & generational boundaries. Appropriate applications of the "cost-effective" concept are considered. L. Whittemore.
ISSN:0147-2011
1936-4725
DOI:10.1007/BF02694984