#Intellectual Obsolescence

The Fleeting Freshness of Knowledge in Modern Life

Ultimately, this perspective compels institutions and individuals alike to rethink the value of static expertise. In schools and workplaces, fostering critical thinking and curiosity has become more important than siloed fact-memorization. By recognizing knowledge’s perishable nature, as Franken quips, we better prepare to meet the continuous challenges of a fast-moving world. [...]

Knowledge Keeps About as Well as Fish – Alfred North Whitehead

The maxim also critiques rigid educational systems that emphasize rote memorization over adaptability. Paulo Freire, in *Pedagogy of the Oppressed* (1970), denounced the 'banking model' of education, warning that untouched deposits of knowledge do not serve learners in a changing world—echoing Whitehead’s warning about the shelf-life of knowledge. [...]