11: It's Darwin! An Evolutionary Lens on Knowledge and Truth

In this chapter, the values of truth and the development and sharing of knowledge and ideas are examined from a Darwinian perspective: when do these contribute to survival, and when are they counterproductive? And survival of what?

This chapter draws on 35 years of experience in knowledge management consultancy. It explores how building trust enhances the development and sharing of ideas and knowledge and reduces the use of misinformation and deception that often arise in competitive environments. A framework is presented to understand how to maximize the benefits of knowledge sharing while accounting for the risks particularly of naivety.

Let's first examine knowledge and truth.