The “Information Society” and the Role of Knowledge in Society

Abstract

The passage from industrial societies to other forms of societies has been strongly influenced by knowledge/information and technology. This transformation has had an effect on the economy and society in different ways. Some interpretations argue that such developments, based on the principle of rationality, have brought about the improvement of the occupational status of workers, whereas some interpretations argue about the elusive role of information as opposed to knowledge. In a more critical understanding, there are also interpretations which emphasise the inclusive and exclusive character of the network and the irrationality of information which on the political level sees a shift of knowledge from public good to intellectual property. This article looks at the theoretical developments which characterised the different interpretation of the role of knowledge in society.

Keywords

• knowledge society
• information society
• network society
• learning economy.
• bilgi toplumu
• enformasyon toplumu
• ağ toplumu
• öğrenme ekonomisi