The Production of Knowledge and the Un/Making of an Encyclopedia of Adult Education: An Introduction

The process of un/making an encyclopedia is inherently and deliberately complex and ambiguous. Yet, the gaze of academic readers and the ever-vigilant eye of the marketer/publisher suggest that such ambiguity is theoretically sanctioned but practically outlawed. The predilection of many readers for false clarity and of many publishers for “accessible” work is in itself a contestable political position (Lather, 1996). Yet, the un/makers of this encyclopedia have resisted simplicity in favor of a more complex re-reading of our field of adult education. Indeed, our entire process has been an unfolding one that has invited many voices and challenging points of view, all of which confer value on the nuanced readings that ambiguity affords.