Thinking with the help of images: On the metaphors of knowledge organization

Abstract

In the literature of knowledge organization, metaphors and images such as 'tree of knowledge', 'map of knowledge' or the 'world as a network' play an important role. This imagery -although not yet thoroughly documented - should be examined from the various points of view of epistemology, the typology of metaphors, discourse analysis, metaphorology and iconography. The crucial point: Not only knowledge as such, but also its organization, is an essential part of our cultural heritage.