What is SmithySmithy?  SmithySmithy is about inquiry, generally speaking, and the ways in which information can be designed to better explain complicated ideas. It is written by Peter Stoyko, a professional researcher, methodologist, and information designer. The most basic questions being asked are: How do I know what I presume to know? What are the biases, blind spots, mental traps, and hidden sways that make human knowledge fallible? What are the weaknesses of the information sources we’re dependent upon? How can I better communicate what I know? Being “info savvy” means that we have satisfactory answers to these questions and many others related to intellectual rigour and mindfulness. All of us should strive to have a healthy information diet in order to make better choices at work and in life.

What Topics Are Covered?  SmithySmithy covers topics related to inquiry and information design. This includes research methods, the philosophy of science, epistemology, thinking skills, information composition (writing and visualization), and the limits of cognition. SmithySmithy also addresses more banal subjects, such as the quality of information coming out of our news media, water-cooler conversations, organisational propaganda, and pub banter. It’s really about everything that shapes our knowledge and understanding. What tends to be excluded are topics related to substantive social scientific topics, which are left to another blog called Fugitive Knowledge.

What Is Your Philosophical Or Ideological Stance?  SmithySmithy is, first and foremost, dedicated to critical thinking and scepticism. This scepticism is not cynicism, nay-saying, hand-wringing, nor nihilism. Taking inspiration from the Greek philosopher Pyrrho, scepticism is first about having an open mind, contrary to a common usage of the term. It is next about applying scrutiny and evidence to arguments before accepting a claim, and then only accepting that claim tentatively. It follows that SmithySmithy takes an empirical, pro-Enlightenment, and pro-science stance towards knowledge. Beyond that, SmithySmithy favours interdisciplinary research and analysis. Logical pragmatics and inquisitiveness about other cultures are also supported. And you might have already noticed a bias in favour of the Queen’s English spelling. Otherwise, I usually try hard to keep my other biases in check.

What’s With The Silly Name? It’s a literary reference. Look it up … but you’ll need some decent research skills: the reference is quite obscure. In short, it’s about making fun of post-modernist literature.

What Kind of Articles Are Posted? SmithySmithy mostly contains original writing and information graphics. Book reviews are the most common post, although original commentaries and essays are also found here.

Where Can I Comment? A built-in commenting feature isn’t available at this time. Thoughtful comments should be sent directly to the author (hisfirstname@hislastname.net) who may or may not append the comment to the end of the post. Authors of any material reviewed have a right to submit a rebuttal which will be posted after a review (unedited except for spelling and grammar). In such cases, a rejoinder will likely follow.

What is Fugitive Knowledge Press? Fugitive Knowledge Press is the print-publishing arm of this site. Original research and views will be published. Some of these publications will take novel forms. More will be revealed once the FKPress site is launched.

Disclaimers. The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of Peter Stoyko. They do not reflect the views and opinions of Peter Stoyko’s employer, the broader institution, nor any affiliated organisation.