
Chapter 11
Open Problems and Future
Directions
11.1 Knowledge and Human Society
Progress of human civilization has always been driven by knowledge ac-
quired and curated over generations. Philosophers in the 17th century realized
that humans being the creator of their own society, can understand its dy-
namics and change it for the betterment of the humankind. Knowledge about
natural phenomena, or “scientific” knowledge, has been systematically applied
for progressive material benefit of human beings over the last few centuries.
Intellectual growth and sustainable development has been fueled by knowledge
about the cultural values of the societies. In mo ...