MindBenders, MindIQ, MindLeaders, MindLever, MindRise. James Burke , of Connections fame, gave an erudite and, for me, often incomprehensible presentation on knowledge and learning. The minority who have decoder rings seize power because they understand the mystery knowledge and know how to make stone axes. And to anticipate change. Universities were organized for the sole purpose of decoding ancient wisdom, but Descartes led us down a reductionist path to a point where experts know more and more about less and less, and everyone can be an expert although perhaps in a meaningless field.
Institutions are like formadehyde, preserving things with no change.
Or you can listen to a similar talk by Burke on the Web but don't let yourself get institutionalized with this stuff. Believe it or not, I am a fan of James Burke. Connections was a wonderful show. His columns in Scientific American give me insight and chuckles. His book The Axeman's Gift was a brilliant collaboration with my favorite pscyhology writer, Robert Ornstein.