Finding Knowledge Beyond the Algorithm: Ten Reasons and a Proposal for DDC and WebDeweySearch in 2026

Cavaleri, Piero Finding Knowledge Beyond the Algorithm: Ten Reasons and a Proposal for DDC and WebDeweySearch in 2026. JLIS.it, 2026, vol. 17, n. 3, pp. 109-129. [Journal article (Paginated)]

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English abstract

In the 2026 information landscape, information retrieval is increasingly dominated by search engines and generative artificial intelligence (GenAI). While recognizing the genuine value of these technologies, this paper argues that they exhibit documented limitations, such as hallucinated citations, visibility bias, and the progressive fragmentation of knowledge. This position paper presents a critical analysis supporting the continued relevance of the Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) and the WebDeweySearch platform as epistemological infrastructures for organizing and exploring knowledge. Through a hierarchical and disciplinary logic, the DDC is interpreted not merely as a cataloging tool, but as a cognitive map capable of fostering structured serendipity, disciplinary contextualization, and global semantic interoperability. The analysis further highlights how the stability of numerical notation mitigates the effects of terminological shift and misinformation, ensuring transparency and accountability in knowledge organization. Finally, the paper explores the DDC’s potential as a complementary framework for AI, particularly within Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) architectures, where it provides the semantic grounding necessary to counteract algorithmic drift. From this perspective, the DDC emerges not as a legacy of the past, but as a critical component for preserving epistemological rigor in the contemporary digital ecosystem.

Item type: Journal article (Paginated)
Keywords: Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC); WebDeweySearch; Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG); Knowledge organization; Information retrieval.
Date deposited: 16 Sep 2026 10:16
Last modified: 16 Sep 2026 10:16
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10760/49027

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