Initial Thoughts on Information vs Illumination
Which is better, information vs illumination? In my opinion I think that experiencing illumination is more profound than having information because you are actively interacting with the information transforming it into wisdom. While watching a video of Nadine Gordimer (I read and recommend July's People
) speaking as a part of my creative writing course for my non-degree liberal arts education, she said, “Information does not replace illumination,” which to me was a nugget of brilliance.
Immediately, I started to think about learning and the creativity process. It’s often been said that information is power, which I have never agreed with, but what about illumination, is it power? When you experience illumination, you see things in a very different light.
What Does Information and Illumination Mean?
As I think about information vs illumination and how it will impact my classic education, I realize that I have it all wrong. For what I am trying to accomplish by acquiring a classic education, I am supposed to be studying and not just learning. Studying feels more hands-on than learning. And going through the information in the courses isn’t adequate as well, I have to interact with the information to transform it into knowledge and then wisdom. It’s by going through this process will I experience illumination.
Knowledge Hierarchy
- Data: symbols
- Information: data that are processed to be useful; provides answers to “who”, “what”, “where”, and “when” questions
- Knowledge: application of data and information; answers “how” questions
- Understanding: appreciation of “why”
- Wisdom: evaluated understanding.
“Russell Ackoff, a systems theorist and professor of organizational change, [who developed the hierarchy above] indicates that the first four categories relate to the past; they deal with what has been or what is known. Only the fifth category, wisdom, deals with the future because it incorporates vision and design. With wisdom, people can create the future rather than just grasp the present and past. But achieving wisdom isn’t easy; people must move successively through the other categories.” Source: Data, Information, Knowledge, and Wisdom by Gene Bellinger, Durval Castro, Anthony Mills.
Applying the Graham Wallas Creativity Model to Learning/Studying
| Stage | Actions |
| Preparation |
|
| Incubation |
|
| Illumination |
|
| Implementation/Verification |
|
Final Thoughts on Information vs Illumination
Restructuring the creativity model has given me new ways of approaching my liberal arts education. I can take it one step further and read each set of class notes in relation to each other. By taking information, distilling and integrating it, taking the time to understand what it really means, you can experience illumination.
A Technique for Producing Ideas: The simple, five-step formula anyone can use to be more creative in business and in life!
The Art of Thought
