commonknowledge

Common knowledge refers to information that is widely accepted and shared among a large group of people within a particular culture or society. It is often considered to be a part of the collective consciousness and is typically passed down through generations. Common knowledge can encompass a wide range of topics, including historical events, cultural practices, scientific facts, and everyday experiences. It serves as a foundation for communication and understanding within a community, as it provides a shared context and set of assumptions that facilitate interaction and cooperation.

The concept of common knowledge is often contrasted with tacit knowledge, which is personal and context-specific, and explicit knowledge, which is formalized and documented. While common knowledge is generally reliable and accurate, it can also be subject to change over time as new information becomes available or as societal norms and values evolve. Additionally, common knowledge can vary significantly between different cultures and societies, reflecting their unique histories, traditions, and values.

In the context of information technology and knowledge management, common knowledge is sometimes referred to as "folksonomy," which is a user-generated system of categorization based on the collective input of a community. Folksonomies are used to organize and retrieve information in a decentralized and collaborative manner, leveraging the collective intelligence of a group of people to create a shared understanding and classification system.