How to take non-knowledge seriously, or “the unexpected virtue of ignorance”

Kristian Hvidtfelt Nielsen; Mads P. Sørensen

doi:10.1177/0963662515600967

How to take non-knowledge seriously, or “the unexpected virtue of ignorance”

Kristian Hvidtfelt Nielsen, Mads P. Sørensen

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Journal article › Research › peer-review

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Abstract

This commentary argues that we need to take ignorance and non-knowledge seriously in the fields of science communication and public understanding of science. As much as we want ignorance to disappear, it seems that it is here to stay—in the sciences and in the rest of society. Drawing on the vast but scattered literature on ignorance and non-knowledge, we suggest that paying closer attention to these phenomena could be beneficial for science communicators. Despite the fact that ignorance and non-knowledge, just like knowledge, today are highly politicized fields, they may also open up for new lines of inquiry and may be key to more pluralistic and equal democratic deliberation about science and technology.

Original language	English
Journal	Public Understanding of Science
Volume	23
Issue	3
Pages (from-to)	385–392
Number of pages	8
ISSN	0963-6625
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/0963662515600967
Publication status	Published - 2017

Keywords

ignorance
lay expertise
media and science
non-knowledge
public understanding of science
science communication

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10.1177/0963662515600967

Manuscript Revised Submitted 01-07-2015Accepted manuscript, 215 KB

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How to take non-knowledge seriously, or “the unexpected virtue of ignorance”

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Keywords

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