Text book Chapter 2 – Alphabetization and its Discontents

1. What are your thoughts on Mortimer Adler’s stance against alphabetization (p. 30)? What do you think he means by “inherent in all things to be learned we should be able to find inner connections”?
I like Alder’s stance against alphabetization. I understand that people categorize things differently based on their backgrounds or ways of viewing things, but it is much easier to find things using the Propaedia. I have used the Britannica since was small, and I don’t remember having a hard time finding things I needed. My father is an engineer, and he used to buy a few books from the entire Britannica where were related to engineering. I think the topic-based stance enables users to give more flexibility. I think “inherent in all things to be learned we should be able to find inner connections” is very true. Especially for language learning, many teachers suggest students to use paper dictionary instead of digital one because that way students naturally learn related information by looking up the specific topic.

2. What are your thoughts on Weinberger’s last sentences in this chapter: “Now we know that not everything has its place. Everything has its places – the joints at which we choose to bend nature”? Write about some of the joints of nature that are important to you in what you “know” about life and the world. For example, your religious and/or political beliefs.
I agree with Weinberger’s last sentences. Not everything can fit in one place, but they have places to be fit. I think it is natural that some don’t fit in one and that is not a problem. I am not sure if religious or political beliefs matter some of the joints of nature. One joint of nature that is important to me is that connection between each human being and nature. For example, if I drive an electronic car, I can cut air pollution from a car. This action helps other people around me and nature. In other words, we are all connected.