2024-02-10T09:11:06 Status: #moc Tags: #zettelkasten Links: [[Society]] | [[Knowledge base]] # Zettelkasten Building a [[Knowledge base]] upon the sytem of Luhmann’s [[Zettelkasten Method]], and modernizing the link-building approach to create a connected graph of ideas for future reference. This approach appears to be uniquely suited for implementing in [[Markdown]] using [Obsidian.md](https://obsidian.md) ![[afalk42_An_illustration_for_a_knowledge_base_article_on_Zettelk_6ae69aec-1f7f-4f3b-9ed4-ecd1af3d32ce.png]] ## Definition from Wikipedia A **_Zettelkasten_** (German for "slip box", plural **_Zettelkästen_**) or **card file** consists of small items of information stored on paper slips or cards that may be linked to each other through [subject headings](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Index_term "Index term") or other [metadata](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metadata "Metadata") such as numbers and [tags](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tag_(metadata) "Tag (metadata)").[[1]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zettelkasten#cite_note-1)[[2]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zettelkasten#cite_note-Eco-2) It has often been used as a system of [note-taking](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Note-taking "Note-taking") and [personal knowledge management](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_knowledge_management "Personal knowledge management") for research, study, and writing. ![[Zettelkasten_paper_schematic.png]] In the 1980s, the card file began to be used as metaphor in the interface of some [hypertextual](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypertext "Hypertext") [personal knowledge base](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_knowledge_base "Personal knowledge base") software applications such as [NoteCards](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NoteCards "NoteCards"). and [HyperCard](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HyperCard) In the 1990s, such software inspired the [invention of wikis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_wikis "History of wikis"). ## Use in personal knowledge management As used in research, study, and writing, a card file consists of many individual notes with ideas and other short pieces of information that are taken down as they occur or are acquired. The notes may be numbered hierarchically so that new notes may be inserted at the appropriate place, and contain [metadata](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metadata "Metadata") to allow the note-taker to associate notes with each other. For example, notes may contain [subject headings](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subject_heading "Subject heading") or [tags](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tag_(metadata) "Tag (metadata)") that describe key aspects of the note, and they may reference other notes. The numbering, metadata, format and structure of the notes is subject to variation depending on the specific method employed. The system not only allows a researcher to store and retrieve information related to their research, but has also long been used to enhance creativity. ## Related Blog Posts - [[Reorganizing my Knowledge Base]] --- # References - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zettelkasten - https://zettelkasten.de/introduction/ - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6ySG7xYgjY