[Sigia-l] moving beyond first principles: WHY?

[Chris Chandler]

"Karl Fast" wrote:

> If this is an accurate list then we have a problem (I know, the list
> is meant largely in jest).
>
>
> Nothing here is unique to information architecture. The list could
> be applied to interaction design, usability engineering, HCI or
> whatever field/discipline/profession you like best.
>
>
> So...can anyone enumerate first principles for IA?


Let me ask you this Karl: can anyone enumerate the first principles of Library Science?

Can it be done in a non-trivial and universally accepted way?

I studied Anthropology as an undergraduate and no one ever enumerated those first principles, in fact, the debate as to
what was and wasn't considered "culture" has gone on for a century and shows no sign of slowing down. When learning
about the "schools" of Anthropology, it seemed that every one had it's own, peculiar set of "first principles" -- all of
which served mostly, from the perspective of history, as the dialectical "thesis" for the next movement.

Later, I went to school for several years for an MA in Urban Planning, and no one ever enumerated the first principles
of that field. In the Urban Planning program I attended, students were asked to choose a "specialty" from the following
sub fields:

Regional and International Development
Social Planning and Analysis
Environmental Analysis and Policy
Community Development and the Built Environment

These areas of concentration have some obvious overlaps with each other, and overlap like crazy with what students in
Geography, Public Health, Social Welfare thought of as "their" specialty.

Maybe this is what you are getting at?

-cc

PS I applaud Christina's game attempt!! I find her list to be quite valuable, and think it would offer some solid
guidance for new entrants into our field, but for example, it says nothing about the process flows and use cases I
routinely write to make the purchase process smooth and as trouble free as possible.