Toward a Theistic Theory of Knowledge Management/J. Colannino

Current theories of knowledge management and learning organizations are conflicted about why human beings self-organize, whether the driving force is primarily psychological or sociological, and even what the ideal organization should look like. So, I am going to do something in this blog that I would never dream to do in any other kind of publication. I am going to present a rudimentary theory of organization from a theistic basis. I am hoping that my readers will do me the great service of commenting, challenging, and critiquing this theory and pointing me to other related research.

Premises
P1. God is relational
P2. God is omnipotent
P3. Man is created in God’s image
P4. Man is a fallen creature

In the above premises and throughout this blog I use “man” and related pronouns in the same way they are used in the Judeo-Christian tradition – to mean humankind, both male and female.

I anticipate a criticism before I even begin: some may say that the above premises are not “scientific.” This is a winding rabbit trail which I shall avoid except to note in passing that science was developed in a milieu of theism, not atheism – theists expected a rational God to have designed a rational universe. If you have a differing philosophy of science, I grant you your prerogative. This allows us to exercise Moynihan’s maxim: we are all entitled to our own opinions, but not our own facts. So together, let us investigate what psycho-sociological results one might reasonably expect from the above premises. The reader may then judge as to whether or not such results are consistent or antithetical to reality.

Results
R1. God is relational (P1): man is created in God’s image (P3): therefore, man is relational and inexorably driven to form social structures. Indeed, man cannot find his highest fulfillment except as part of a properly oriented social network.

R2. God is omnipotent (P2): man is created in God’s image (P3): therefore, man is coregent; he seeks the cultural mandate – to be fruitful and multiply, to rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the sky. He cannot be fulfilled lest he exercise his cultural mandate to produce and manage.

R3. Man is a fallen creature (P4): therefore the cultural mandate is often perverted; extortion and oppression are all too common. Organizations are created which are exploitative and which do not allow man to find his highest expression, passion, and meaning. Such socio-psychological behavior must be countered with preventative and punitive measures.

I somehow doubt these are original thoughts, but I have yet to find other practitioners which espouse similar ones. If you are familiar with this field or know others who may have studied this subject, please comment; I would be most appreciative.