Document (#21544)

Author

Rayward, W.B.

Title

H.G. Well's idea of a world brain : a critical reassessment

Source

Journal of the American Society for Information Science. 50(1999) no.7, S.557-573

Year

1999

Abstract

What exactly are the Wellsian World Brain or World Encyclopedia ideas to which reference is so often made? What did they mean for Wells? What might they mean for us? This article examines closely what Wells says about them in his book, World Brain (1938), and in a number of works that elaborate what is expressed there. The article discusses aspects of the context within which Wells's conception of a new world encyclopedia organization was formulated and its role in the main trust of his thought. The article argues that Wells's ideas about a World Brain are embedded in a strucutre of thought that may be shown to entail on the one hand notions of social repression and control that must give us pause, and on the other a concept of the nature and organization of knowledge that may well be no longer acceptable. By examining Wells's ideas in some detail and attempting to articulate the systems of belief which shaped tham and which otherwise lie silent beneath them, the author hopes to provoke questions about current theorizing about the nature of global information systems and emergent intelligence

Theme

Information

Similar documents (author)

1. Rayward, W.B.: ¬The UDC and FID: a historical perspective (1967) 5.54

   5.5426593 = sum of:
     5.5426593 = weight(author_txt:rayward in 1156) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
       5.5426593 = fieldWeight in 1156, product of:
         1.0 = tf(freq=1.0), with freq of:
           1.0 = termFreq=1.0
         8.868255 = idf(docFreq=16, maxDocs=44421)
         0.625 = fieldNorm(doc=1156)
   

2. Rayward, W.B.: Library and information sciences : disciplinary differentiation, competition, and convergence (1983) 5.54

   5.5426593 = sum of:
     5.5426593 = weight(author_txt:rayward in 2599) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
       5.5426593 = fieldWeight in 2599, product of:
         1.0 = tf(freq=1.0), with freq of:
           1.0 = termFreq=1.0
         8.868255 = idf(docFreq=16, maxDocs=44421)
         0.625 = fieldNorm(doc=2599)
   

3. Rayward, W.B.: Library and information science : an historical perspective (1985) 5.54

   5.5426593 = sum of:
     5.5426593 = weight(author_txt:rayward in 2600) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
       5.5426593 = fieldWeight in 2600, product of:
         1.0 = tf(freq=1.0), with freq of:
           1.0 = termFreq=1.0
         8.868255 = idf(docFreq=16, maxDocs=44421)
         0.625 = fieldNorm(doc=2600)
   

4. Rayward, W.B.: ¬The case of Paul Otlet, pioneer of information science, internationalist, visionary : reflections on biography (1991) 5.54

   5.5426593 = sum of:
     5.5426593 = weight(author_txt:rayward in 3088) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
       5.5426593 = fieldWeight in 3088, product of:
         1.0 = tf(freq=1.0), with freq of:
           1.0 = termFreq=1.0
         8.868255 = idf(docFreq=16, maxDocs=44421)
         0.625 = fieldNorm(doc=3088)
   

5. Rayward, W.B.: Some schemes for restructuring and mobilising information in documents : a historical perspective (1994) 5.54

   5.5426593 = sum of:
     5.5426593 = weight(author_txt:rayward in 6167) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
       5.5426593 = fieldWeight in 6167, product of:
         1.0 = tf(freq=1.0), with freq of:
           1.0 = termFreq=1.0
         8.868255 = idf(docFreq=16, maxDocs=44421)
         0.625 = fieldNorm(doc=6167)
   

Similar documents (content)

1. Chalmers, D.J.: ¬The conscious mind : in search of a fundamental theory (1996) 0.16

   0.1560637 = sum of:
     0.1560637 = product of:
       0.55737036 = sum of:
         0.009623208 = weight(abstract_txt:which in 413) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
           0.009623208 = score(doc=413,freq=1.0), product of:
             0.07045641 = queryWeight, product of:
               1.374009 = boost
               2.9137893 = idf(docFreq=6552, maxDocs=44421)
               0.017598383 = queryNorm
             0.13658386 = fieldWeight in 413, product of:
               1.0 = tf(freq=1.0), with freq of:
                 1.0 = termFreq=1.0
               2.9137893 = idf(docFreq=6552, maxDocs=44421)
               0.046875 = fieldNorm(doc=413)
         0.015753929 = weight(abstract_txt:that in 413) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
           0.015753929 = score(doc=413,freq=6.0), product of:
             0.058016654 = queryWeight, product of:
               1.3939933 = boost
               2.3649352 = idf(docFreq=11344, maxDocs=44421)
               0.017598383 = queryNorm
             0.27154148 = fieldWeight in 413, product of:
               2.4494898 = tf(freq=6.0), with freq of:
                 6.0 = termFreq=6.0
               2.3649352 = idf(docFreq=11344, maxDocs=44421)
               0.046875 = fieldNorm(doc=413)
         0.06844559 = weight(abstract_txt:thought in 413) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
           0.06844559 = score(doc=413,freq=2.0), product of:
             0.16415377 = queryWeight, product of:
               1.4829953 = boost
               6.2898216 = idf(docFreq=223, maxDocs=44421)
               0.017598383 = queryNorm
             0.4169602 = fieldWeight in 413, product of:
               1.4142135 = tf(freq=2.0), with freq of:
                 2.0 = termFreq=2.0
               6.2898216 = idf(docFreq=223, maxDocs=44421)
               0.046875 = fieldNorm(doc=413)
         0.023355504 = weight(abstract_txt:about in 413) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
           0.023355504 = score(doc=413,freq=1.0), product of:
             0.12724285 = queryWeight, product of:
               1.846486 = boost
               3.9157467 = idf(docFreq=2405, maxDocs=44421)
               0.017598383 = queryNorm
             0.18355063 = fieldWeight in 413, product of:
               1.0 = tf(freq=1.0), with freq of:
                 1.0 = termFreq=1.0
               3.9157467 = idf(docFreq=2405, maxDocs=44421)
               0.046875 = fieldNorm(doc=413)
         0.051390525 = weight(abstract_txt:ideas in 413) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
           0.051390525 = score(doc=413,freq=1.0), product of:
             0.19557635 = queryWeight, product of:
               1.9825225 = boost
               5.6056433 = idf(docFreq=443, maxDocs=44421)
               0.017598383 = queryNorm
             0.2627645 = fieldWeight in 413, product of:
               1.0 = tf(freq=1.0), with freq of:
                 1.0 = termFreq=1.0
               5.6056433 = idf(docFreq=443, maxDocs=44421)
               0.046875 = fieldNorm(doc=413)
         0.05496338 = weight(abstract_txt:what in 413) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
           0.05496338 = score(doc=413,freq=2.0), product of:
             0.19247878 = queryWeight, product of:
               2.5390763 = boost
               4.3075895 = idf(docFreq=1625, maxDocs=44421)
               0.017598383 = queryNorm
             0.28555554 = fieldWeight in 413, product of:
               1.4142135 = tf(freq=2.0), with freq of:
                 2.0 = termFreq=2.0
               4.3075895 = idf(docFreq=1625, maxDocs=44421)
               0.046875 = fieldNorm(doc=413)
         0.33383822 = weight(abstract_txt:brain in 413) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
           0.33383822 = score(doc=413,freq=4.0), product of:
             0.4721115 = queryWeight, product of:
               3.5567358 = boost
               7.5425844 = idf(docFreq=63, maxDocs=44421)
               0.017598383 = queryNorm
             0.7071173 = fieldWeight in 413, product of:
               2.0 = tf(freq=4.0), with freq of:
                 4.0 = termFreq=4.0
               7.5425844 = idf(docFreq=63, maxDocs=44421)
               0.046875 = fieldNorm(doc=413)
       0.28 = coord(7/25)
   

2. Gerstenkorn, A.: Entities and quiddities : about ontological and epistemological conceptualization for knowledge organization (2010) 0.15

   0.1511719 = sum of:
     0.1511719 = product of:
       0.62988293 = sum of:
         0.012830946 = weight(abstract_txt:which in 498) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
           0.012830946 = score(doc=498,freq=1.0), product of:
             0.07045641 = queryWeight, product of:
               1.374009 = boost
               2.9137893 = idf(docFreq=6552, maxDocs=44421)
               0.017598383 = queryNorm
             0.18211183 = fieldWeight in 498, product of:
               1.0 = tf(freq=1.0), with freq of:
                 1.0 = termFreq=1.0
               2.9137893 = idf(docFreq=6552, maxDocs=44421)
               0.0625 = fieldNorm(doc=498)
         0.008575352 = weight(abstract_txt:that in 498) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
           0.008575352 = score(doc=498,freq=1.0), product of:
             0.058016654 = queryWeight, product of:
               1.3939933 = boost
               2.3649352 = idf(docFreq=11344, maxDocs=44421)
               0.017598383 = queryNorm
             0.14780845 = fieldWeight in 498, product of:
               1.0 = tf(freq=1.0), with freq of:
                 1.0 = termFreq=1.0
               2.3649352 = idf(docFreq=11344, maxDocs=44421)
               0.0625 = fieldNorm(doc=498)
         0.044039562 = weight(abstract_txt:about in 498) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
           0.044039562 = score(doc=498,freq=2.0), product of:
             0.12724285 = queryWeight, product of:
               1.846486 = boost
               3.9157467 = idf(docFreq=2405, maxDocs=44421)
               0.017598383 = queryNorm
             0.34610638 = fieldWeight in 498, product of:
               1.4142135 = tf(freq=2.0), with freq of:
                 2.0 = termFreq=2.0
               3.9157467 = idf(docFreq=2405, maxDocs=44421)
               0.0625 = fieldNorm(doc=498)
         0.051819973 = weight(abstract_txt:what in 498) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
           0.051819973 = score(doc=498,freq=1.0), product of:
             0.19247878 = queryWeight, product of:
               2.5390763 = boost
               4.3075895 = idf(docFreq=1625, maxDocs=44421)
               0.017598383 = queryNorm
             0.26922435 = fieldWeight in 498, product of:
               1.0 = tf(freq=1.0), with freq of:
                 1.0 = termFreq=1.0
               4.3075895 = idf(docFreq=1625, maxDocs=44421)
               0.0625 = fieldNorm(doc=498)
         0.067499496 = weight(abstract_txt:world in 498) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
           0.067499496 = score(doc=498,freq=1.0), product of:
             0.24395636 = queryWeight, product of:
               3.1313457 = boost
               4.426988 = idf(docFreq=1442, maxDocs=44421)
               0.017598383 = queryNorm
             0.27668676 = fieldWeight in 498, product of:
               1.0 = tf(freq=1.0), with freq of:
                 1.0 = termFreq=1.0
               4.426988 = idf(docFreq=1442, maxDocs=44421)
               0.0625 = fieldNorm(doc=498)
         0.4451176 = weight(abstract_txt:brain in 498) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
           0.4451176 = score(doc=498,freq=4.0), product of:
             0.4721115 = queryWeight, product of:
               3.5567358 = boost
               7.5425844 = idf(docFreq=63, maxDocs=44421)
               0.017598383 = queryNorm
             0.94282305 = fieldWeight in 498, product of:
               2.0 = tf(freq=4.0), with freq of:
                 4.0 = termFreq=4.0
               7.5425844 = idf(docFreq=63, maxDocs=44421)
               0.0625 = fieldNorm(doc=498)
       0.24 = coord(6/25)
   

3. Walker, T.D.: ¬L'¬apparition du computer : epistemology and the impact of networked computers on society (1996) 0.15

   0.14570539 = sum of:
     0.14570539 = product of:
       0.72852695 = sum of:
         0.034298018 = weight(abstract_txt:organization in 5256) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
           0.034298018 = score(doc=5256,freq=1.0), product of:
             0.082197115 = queryWeight, product of:
               1.0494038 = boost
               4.450832 = idf(docFreq=1408, maxDocs=44421)
               0.017598383 = queryNorm
             0.41726547 = fieldWeight in 5256, product of:
               1.0 = tf(freq=1.0), with freq of:
                 1.0 = termFreq=1.0
               4.450832 = idf(docFreq=1408, maxDocs=44421)
               0.09375 = fieldNorm(doc=5256)
         0.012863028 = weight(abstract_txt:that in 5256) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
           0.012863028 = score(doc=5256,freq=1.0), product of:
             0.058016654 = queryWeight, product of:
               1.3939933 = boost
               2.3649352 = idf(docFreq=11344, maxDocs=44421)
               0.017598383 = queryNorm
             0.22171268 = fieldWeight in 5256, product of:
               1.0 = tf(freq=1.0), with freq of:
                 1.0 = termFreq=1.0
               2.3649352 = idf(docFreq=11344, maxDocs=44421)
               0.09375 = fieldNorm(doc=5256)
         0.06605934 = weight(abstract_txt:about in 5256) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
           0.06605934 = score(doc=5256,freq=2.0), product of:
             0.12724285 = queryWeight, product of:
               1.846486 = boost
               3.9157467 = idf(docFreq=2405, maxDocs=44421)
               0.017598383 = queryNorm
             0.51915956 = fieldWeight in 5256, product of:
               1.4142135 = tf(freq=2.0), with freq of:
                 2.0 = termFreq=2.0
               3.9157467 = idf(docFreq=2405, maxDocs=44421)
               0.09375 = fieldNorm(doc=5256)
         0.14318804 = weight(abstract_txt:world in 5256) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
           0.14318804 = score(doc=5256,freq=2.0), product of:
             0.24395636 = queryWeight, product of:
               3.1313457 = boost
               4.426988 = idf(docFreq=1442, maxDocs=44421)
               0.017598383 = queryNorm
             0.58694124 = fieldWeight in 5256, product of:
               1.4142135 = tf(freq=2.0), with freq of:
                 2.0 = termFreq=2.0
               4.426988 = idf(docFreq=1442, maxDocs=44421)
               0.09375 = fieldNorm(doc=5256)
         0.47211853 = weight(abstract_txt:brain in 5256) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
           0.47211853 = score(doc=5256,freq=2.0), product of:
             0.4721115 = queryWeight, product of:
               3.5567358 = boost
               7.5425844 = idf(docFreq=63, maxDocs=44421)
               0.017598383 = queryNorm
             1.0000149 = fieldWeight in 5256, product of:
               1.4142135 = tf(freq=2.0), with freq of:
                 2.0 = termFreq=2.0
               7.5425844 = idf(docFreq=63, maxDocs=44421)
               0.09375 = fieldNorm(doc=5256)
       0.2 = coord(5/25)
   

4. DeSilva, J.M.; Traniello, J.F.A.; Claxton, A.G.; Fannin, L.D.: When and why did human brains decrease in size? : a new change-point analysis and insights from brain evolution in ants (2021) 0.12

   0.11775818 = sum of:
     0.11775818 = product of:
       0.5887909 = sum of:
         0.017149009 = weight(abstract_txt:organization in 1406) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
           0.017149009 = score(doc=1406,freq=1.0), product of:
             0.082197115 = queryWeight, product of:
               1.0494038 = boost
               4.450832 = idf(docFreq=1408, maxDocs=44421)
               0.017598383 = queryNorm
             0.20863274 = fieldWeight in 1406, product of:
               1.0 = tf(freq=1.0), with freq of:
                 1.0 = termFreq=1.0
               4.450832 = idf(docFreq=1408, maxDocs=44421)
               0.046875 = fieldNorm(doc=1406)
         0.009623208 = weight(abstract_txt:which in 1406) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
           0.009623208 = score(doc=1406,freq=1.0), product of:
             0.07045641 = queryWeight, product of:
               1.374009 = boost
               2.9137893 = idf(docFreq=6552, maxDocs=44421)
               0.017598383 = queryNorm
             0.13658386 = fieldWeight in 1406, product of:
               1.0 = tf(freq=1.0), with freq of:
                 1.0 = termFreq=1.0
               2.9137893 = idf(docFreq=6552, maxDocs=44421)
               0.046875 = fieldNorm(doc=1406)
         0.012863028 = weight(abstract_txt:that in 1406) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
           0.012863028 = score(doc=1406,freq=4.0), product of:
             0.058016654 = queryWeight, product of:
               1.3939933 = boost
               2.3649352 = idf(docFreq=11344, maxDocs=44421)
               0.017598383 = queryNorm
             0.22171268 = fieldWeight in 1406, product of:
               2.0 = tf(freq=4.0), with freq of:
                 4.0 = termFreq=4.0
               2.3649352 = idf(docFreq=11344, maxDocs=44421)
               0.046875 = fieldNorm(doc=1406)
         0.048398342 = weight(abstract_txt:thought in 1406) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
           0.048398342 = score(doc=1406,freq=1.0), product of:
             0.16415377 = queryWeight, product of:
               1.4829953 = boost
               6.2898216 = idf(docFreq=223, maxDocs=44421)
               0.017598383 = queryNorm
             0.2948354 = fieldWeight in 1406, product of:
               1.0 = tf(freq=1.0), with freq of:
                 1.0 = termFreq=1.0
               6.2898216 = idf(docFreq=223, maxDocs=44421)
               0.046875 = fieldNorm(doc=1406)
         0.50075734 = weight(abstract_txt:brain in 1406) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
           0.50075734 = score(doc=1406,freq=9.0), product of:
             0.4721115 = queryWeight, product of:
               3.5567358 = boost
               7.5425844 = idf(docFreq=63, maxDocs=44421)
               0.017598383 = queryNorm
             1.060676 = fieldWeight in 1406, product of:
               3.0 = tf(freq=9.0), with freq of:
                 9.0 = termFreq=9.0
               7.5425844 = idf(docFreq=63, maxDocs=44421)
               0.046875 = fieldNorm(doc=1406)
       0.2 = coord(5/25)
   

5. Breitenstein, M.: From revolution to orthodoxy : an evolutionary history of the International Encyclopedia of Unified Science (1999) 0.12

   0.115513064 = sum of:
     0.115513064 = product of:
       0.41254666 = sum of:
         0.020508502 = weight(abstract_txt:them in 718) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
           0.020508502 = score(doc=718,freq=1.0), product of:
             0.07644704 = queryWeight, product of:
               1.012033 = boost
               4.292331 = idf(docFreq=1650, maxDocs=44421)
               0.017598383 = queryNorm
             0.2682707 = fieldWeight in 718, product of:
               1.0 = tf(freq=1.0), with freq of:
                 1.0 = termFreq=1.0
               4.292331 = idf(docFreq=1650, maxDocs=44421)
               0.0625 = fieldNorm(doc=718)
         0.012830946 = weight(abstract_txt:which in 718) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
           0.012830946 = score(doc=718,freq=1.0), product of:
             0.07045641 = queryWeight, product of:
               1.374009 = boost
               2.9137893 = idf(docFreq=6552, maxDocs=44421)
               0.017598383 = queryNorm
             0.18211183 = fieldWeight in 718, product of:
               1.0 = tf(freq=1.0), with freq of:
                 1.0 = termFreq=1.0
               2.9137893 = idf(docFreq=6552, maxDocs=44421)
               0.0625 = fieldNorm(doc=718)
         0.008575352 = weight(abstract_txt:that in 718) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
           0.008575352 = score(doc=718,freq=1.0), product of:
             0.058016654 = queryWeight, product of:
               1.3939933 = boost
               2.3649352 = idf(docFreq=11344, maxDocs=44421)
               0.017598383 = queryNorm
             0.14780845 = fieldWeight in 718, product of:
               1.0 = tf(freq=1.0), with freq of:
                 1.0 = termFreq=1.0
               2.3649352 = idf(docFreq=11344, maxDocs=44421)
               0.0625 = fieldNorm(doc=718)
         0.06453112 = weight(abstract_txt:thought in 718) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
           0.06453112 = score(doc=718,freq=1.0), product of:
             0.16415377 = queryWeight, product of:
               1.4829953 = boost
               6.2898216 = idf(docFreq=223, maxDocs=44421)
               0.017598383 = queryNorm
             0.39311385 = fieldWeight in 718, product of:
               1.0 = tf(freq=1.0), with freq of:
                 1.0 = termFreq=1.0
               6.2898216 = idf(docFreq=223, maxDocs=44421)
               0.0625 = fieldNorm(doc=718)
         0.11991993 = weight(abstract_txt:encyclopedia in 718) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
           0.11991993 = score(doc=718,freq=2.0), product of:
             0.19693473 = queryWeight, product of:
               1.6243346 = boost
               6.889283 = idf(docFreq=122, maxDocs=44421)
               0.017598383 = queryNorm
             0.6089324 = fieldWeight in 718, product of:
               1.4142135 = tf(freq=2.0), with freq of:
                 2.0 = termFreq=2.0
               6.889283 = idf(docFreq=122, maxDocs=44421)
               0.0625 = fieldNorm(doc=718)
         0.11868134 = weight(abstract_txt:ideas in 718) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
           0.11868134 = score(doc=718,freq=3.0), product of:
             0.19557635 = queryWeight, product of:
               1.9825225 = boost
               5.6056433 = idf(docFreq=443, maxDocs=44421)
               0.017598383 = queryNorm
             0.6068287 = fieldWeight in 718, product of:
               1.7320508 = tf(freq=3.0), with freq of:
                 3.0 = termFreq=3.0
               5.6056433 = idf(docFreq=443, maxDocs=44421)
               0.0625 = fieldNorm(doc=718)
         0.067499496 = weight(abstract_txt:world in 718) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
           0.067499496 = score(doc=718,freq=1.0), product of:
             0.24395636 = queryWeight, product of:
               3.1313457 = boost
               4.426988 = idf(docFreq=1442, maxDocs=44421)
               0.017598383 = queryNorm
             0.27668676 = fieldWeight in 718, product of:
               1.0 = tf(freq=1.0), with freq of:
                 1.0 = termFreq=1.0
               4.426988 = idf(docFreq=1442, maxDocs=44421)
               0.0625 = fieldNorm(doc=718)
       0.28 = coord(7/25)