 | This is an essay. It contains the advice or opinions of one or more Wikipedia contributors. This page is not an encyclopedia article, nor is it one of Wikipedia's policies or guidelines, as it has not been thoroughly vetted by the community. Some essays represent widespread norms; others only represent minority viewpoints. |
Wikipedia's purpose is to act as an encyclopedia, a comprehensive written compendium that contains information on all branches of knowledge.
Although Wikipedia is an encyclopedia, it is not bound by the same constraints as a paper encyclopedia or even most online encyclopedias. The length, depth, and breadth of articles in Wikipedia is virtually infinite. As Wikipedia grows, so will computing power, storage capacity, and bandwidth. While there is a practical limit to all these at any given time, Wikipedia is not likely to ever outgrow them.
Wikipedia is not an indiscriminate collection of information. We desire more than just a definition. Articles should provide details about why the topic is important, what role it plays in the wider world. Why should this topic be considered important? Every time this article is read by another contributor, it makes it clear that the project is about covering such topics with an encyclopedic tone, analysing in as much depth as secondary sources allow for all our subjects.
Wikipedia has standards of writing and expectations for articles.
Wikipedia expects articles to improve.
Notability is a red herring. What we refer to when we discuss notability are things to consider when creating an article, i.e. should I write an article on my brother/self/dog/band?
Notability is not meant to discourage encyclopedic articles where they can be written on things which exist in a manner which meet our verifiability policy.
Articles which are short due to minimal coverage in third party sources are balanced in line with coverage and thus comply with the policy on maintaining a neutral point of view.
The goal on Wikipedia is build an encyclopedia.
Wikipedia is not limited in its coverage by anything other than its foundation principles and community consensus.
Guidelines are not a substitute for debate, reasoned opinion and consensus.
Quotes edit
"A man is the whole encyclopedia of facts." Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882), U.S. essayist, poet, philosopher. “History,” Essays, First Series (1841, repr. 1847).
"Certitude belongs exclusively to those who only own one encyclopedia." Robert Anton Wilson
"Because the world is radically new, the ideal encyclopedia should be radical, too." Charles Van Doren
"I'm not going to buy my kids an encyclopedia. Let them walk to school like I did." Yogi Berra
"Imagine a world in which every single person on the planet is given free access to the sum of all human knowledge. That's what we're doing." Jimmy Wales
| “ | Our goal with Wikipedia is to create a free encyclopedia; indeed, the largest encyclopedia in history, both in terms of breadth and in terms of depth. We also want Wikipedia to be a reliable resource.—Larry Sanger[1] | ” |
| “ | Indeed, the purpose of an encyclopedia is to collect knowledge disseminated around the globe; to set forth its general system to the men with whom we live, and transmit it to those who will come after us, so that the work of preceding centuries will not become useless to the centuries to come; and so that our offspring, becoming better instructed, will at the same time become more virtuous and happy, and that we should not die without having rendered a service to the human race.—Diderot[2] | ” |
References edit
- ^ Sanger, Larry. "Wikipedia policy" (1 November 2001). Wikipedia. Accessed: 2007-12-11. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/5U0Rx8xAc)
- ^ Diderot, Denis and d'Alembert, Jean le Rond Encyclopédie. University of Michigan Library:Scholarly Publishing Office and DLXS. Retrieved on: November 17, 2007