Three metaphors of time in knowledge organization systems: architectonic, ouroboric, and lachesic¶

Theory · All theories
Evidence · no claims cited

Description¶

The paper names and substantively describes three metaphors governing views of time and change in knowledge organization systems. The architectonic metaphor treats meaning as systematic and edition-based; the ouroboric treats meaning as constantly renewed from the old, like 'the serpent eating its own tail'; the lachesic treats time as an allotted amount that is additive, allowing new subjects to be added without revising old ones. The paper states: 'Each of these metaphors, the architectonic, ouroboric, and lachesic, govern our views on time and change knowledge organization system.' These metaphors serve as lenses for evaluating extant or newly designed systems.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Analysts must choose explicitly which time metaphor they adopt, since each implies different validation practices and different answers to when a system is correct

Constraints¶

• The paper presents these as its interpretation of a subset of extant studies, and anticipates debate over which metaphor is best for evaluation work

Target Learners¶

• library and information science researchers and practitioners
• designers of knowledge organization systems

Target Learning Objectives¶

• understanding how conceptions of time shape evaluation and design of knowledge organization systems

Claims¶

Related Theories¶

• Architectonics: the philosophical tradition of building and relating meaning, knowledge, and experience
• Peircean architectonics as an interdisciplinary paradigm organized by triadic logic

Examples¶

• Use the three time metaphors as lenses to analyse extant or newly designed knowledge organization systems

Key Sources¶

• Tennis, J.T. (2013). Metaphors of time and installed knowledge organization systems: Ouroboros, Architectonics, or Lachesis? Information Research, 18(3) paper C38. http://InformationR.net/ir/18-3/colis/paperC38.html