Progress and documentation
Documentation and Information Science have often aimed at contributing to the growth of knowledge and to progress in society (cf., Mikhailov, 1992). For a general presentation of the concept of progress and progress in science, see Progress (epistemological lifeboat).
The founders of the documentation movement, for example, Paul Otlet and S. C. Bradford saw scientific documentation as an important tool for scientific and social progress. Also the concept of encyclopedia is associated with enlightenment philosophy and the belief in progress.
One thing is of course the belief that documentation contributes to progress. Quite another thing is to demonstrate that this is actually the case or to measure the importance of information and documentation services to progress. This issue is connected to the issue of commercialization of information and documentation services.
Literature:
Mikhailov, A. I. (1972). Scientific and technical information and effectiveness of science. Rivista dell'Informazione, 3(1), 74-77. (In English).
See also: Progress (Epistemological lifeboat).