Regardless of whether this Zeitgeist is local or global in scope, search engine queries should not be used to measure anything other than what resources a specific group of people are searching for during a given period of time.
Yes, thank you -- you're bang on. Why Google would use such a term is beyond me.
Georg Hegel, the famous German philosopher of the early 19th century, used the term 'Zeitgeist' to describe the transitions of the various phases of history. He theorized that through the process of 'thesis' and 'antithesis' a synthesis would occur defining an age's 'Zeitgeist.' It is arguable that through Hegel, that the term 'Zeitgeist', and its application to describe an era's "Spirit of History", was conveyed to the public.
Philosophers and political scientists continue to use the term when discussing various political/social regimes, superstructures, and socialization issues.
Google assumes -- quite arrogantly -- that the "spirit" of our times, or even cultural climate, is defined and measured by what words people key into the Google search engine; I'm sure Hegel is turning over in his grave. The current Zeitgeist is not about Niki Taylor pictures or how to book a seat on the next Delta airlines flight. Moreover, even if search engine queries could measure cultural sentiment, it could hardly be taken as a global (or even regional) sample. Most people on this planet are not on the Web, and not all those who are use Google.
At the very most, this study reveals what information and resources a specific group of people want during a particular period of time. By no means should it be equated with the Spirit of the Times.
Slashdot Mirror
Regardless of whether this Zeitgeist is local or global in scope, search engine queries should not be used to measure anything other than what resources a specific group of people are searching for during a given period of time.
Yes, thank you -- you're bang on. Why Google would use such a term is beyond me.
Georg Hegel, the famous German philosopher of the early 19th century, used the term 'Zeitgeist' to describe the transitions of the various phases of history. He theorized that through the process of 'thesis' and 'antithesis' a synthesis would occur defining an age's 'Zeitgeist.' It is arguable that through Hegel, that the term 'Zeitgeist', and its application to describe an era's "Spirit of History", was conveyed to the public.
Philosophers and political scientists continue to use the term when discussing various political/social regimes, superstructures, and socialization issues.
Google assumes -- quite arrogantly -- that the "spirit" of our times, or even cultural climate, is defined and measured by what words people key into the Google search engine; I'm sure Hegel is turning over in his grave. The current Zeitgeist is not about Niki Taylor pictures or how to book a seat on the next Delta airlines flight. Moreover, even if search engine queries could measure cultural sentiment, it could hardly be taken as a global (or even regional) sample. Most people on this planet are not on the Web, and not all those who are use Google.
At the very most, this study reveals what information and resources a specific group of people want during a particular period of time. By no means should it be equated with the Spirit of the Times.