by Rodrigo Mora, PhD
Are you building science meta ignorant?
- Zero-order ignorance (0OI) is lack of ignorance. Answers and skills are available. A deep level of cause-effect, theoretical and practical knowledge and skills are available. Every subtlety associated with aspects such as requirements, interdependencies, goals, and contextual information is appreciated.
- First-order ignorance (1OI) is lack of knowledge. This shortfall is exactly quantifiable, tasks required to overcome it are known and skills exist to complete the tasks. Lack of problem-specific knowledge is overcome with fundamental knowledge and skills to make the problem tractable and arrive at reasonable solutions.
- Second-order ignorance (2OI) is lack of process. When it is not known how to go about finding out what is not known. Fundamental knowledge is weak. Time and effort are needed to acquire the knowledge and skills to be able to arrive at solutions systematically. How do I know if the air in my house is fresh?
- Third-order ignorance (3OI) is lack of awareness. When it is not known what is not known. What is the big deal with the building envelope? What is the connection with indoor air quality and mould? What is the distinction between indoor air quality (IAQ) and ventilation?
- Fourth-order ignorance (4OI) is meta ignorance. 4OI occurs when one is unaware of the other four orders of ignorance. If you read this you are not meta-ignorant anymore.
(Adapted from: The Five Orders of Ignorance, Armour PG 2000)
What is the best way to overcome your ignorance? Tell us in the comment section below!
I am not meta ignorant in building science and definitely I am well aware of the factors affecting durability of buildings. I think my level of building science knowledge is between OIs 2 and 3. I need better knowledge on the fundamentals and physical processes. What is the best way to acquire such knowledge?
Hi Rocky,
Definitely the best way to learn the fundamentals is through formal education; for example, by enrolling in a Building Science graduate program. You could also try to learn the theory on your own from books. There are excellent books in Building Science. However, books are meant to support training. Reading books will definitely not be sufficient.