Knowledge Creation in the Intellectual Networks

The chapter proposes an approach to explain how knowledge is socially created. Such an explanation is essential to understand the emerging knowledge society and the respective changes in the role and place of intellectuals it brings. First, the basic principles of knowledge creation are outlined. Second, we suggest the concept of knowledge creation ritual, which describes co-evolution of knowledge, communication and emotional energy in micro groups as a process of structural coupling between individuals and explains social knowledge generation. Third, the mechanisms of knowledge creation in large-scale network structures - intellectual network ensembles - are analyzed. We introduce the concept of cultural-cognitive domain constituted by three main elements: knowledge fields, communication networks and emotional energy pools as a main unit to analyze knowledge creation in the intellectual network ensembles. Some of the principles of emergence and evolution of the cultural-cognitive domains are outlined. Finally, using the proposed approach we try to address some of the issues discussed by the other authors of this book.