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Discussion

1.3.1 Bibliography

As a reader, you are uncertain about the sources that
authors used in their writing without a bibliography. You
don't know if the information comes from credible experts or
Sources questionable outlets. But, with bibliography, you can clearly
transparent see all the sources the author pulled from while researching
and writing. You can evaluate the credibility of these sources
and their relevance to the topic. So, a bibliography provides
the essential roadmap for any intellectual work, enabling you
as a reader to analyse, appreciate and build upon those ideas.

In ancient Greece, the great philosopher Aristotle spent many years gath-
ering knowledge and writing extensively on subjects like physics, poetry,
politics, biology and more. His work formed the basis for much of Western
thought. However, Aristotle was not just a brilliant thinker - he was also
a meticulous scholar. Despite his renown, Aristotle often cited and refer-
enced the work of others who came before him, like his teacher Plato. He
understood that even genius is not made in isolation but is built on the
foundation of previous learning. Though Aristotle put forth groundbreak-
ing new ideas, he acknowledged that his brilliant philosophies could only
emerge from the pioneering work of previous thinkers. Aristotle under-
stood that his original theories were indebted to and built upon the pro-
found contributions of earlier scholars and mentors like Plato, whose
figurative shoulders supported him.

Kevin Kelly is a known writer, editor and speaker who
has long been an influential voice commenting on the role of
emerging technologies in business, knowledge and culture.
His quote "Ideas emerge not from genius in isolation but
from standing on a well-documented pyramid of precedent"
reflects his view of how ideas build on prior work. Dan S.
Kennedy, an accomplished author, speaker and consultant
who has made a significant impact in the world of direct
marketing and entrepreneurship, observes: "The most
fruitful research begins not with novelty but with grateful
acknowledgment of your knowledge ancestry." The famous
Fig. 1.3.1 Aristotle artist and inventor Leonardo da Vinci, with his immense

SGOU - SLM - Foundational Skills for Research and Writing 53