Zettelkasten

The Zettelkasten (trans-lit. slip box, from German; pl. Zettelkästen) method is a method of information preservation derived from the method of the same name described and used by scientist Niklas Luhmann in the 20th century. It is primarily known as a note-taking method, based on the name and iconic usage through paper notecards, but it may be used as an organic and free-structure method of thought.

A Zettelkasten collection possesses three key features: (src.)

1. It is hypertextual.
2. It adheres to the Principle of Atomicity.
3. It is personal.

With this method, the Zettelkasten can provide a path of thought through a given topic or multiple. This line of thinking can be used to connect and consider aspects of the world at large. It is high-effort because its archivist’s time is chiefly spent managing and improving it; but, the effort is highly rewarding. One only needs look at Luhmann’s accolades to prove this.

One further note on the Zettelkasten at large: its content is unfiltered. It is described as a “septic tank” or a digestive tract; pruning and editing comes second.

A Zettelkasten note collection can be divided into several hierarchical categories:

1. The fleeting notes, stream-of-conscious, but short.
2. The literature notes, wholly unfiltered, longform notes which rely on source material.
3. The hub notes which help group notes together.
4. The permanent notes, the culmination of the Zettelkasten.

Or, in a succinct hierarchical structure:

1. The raw data, the bread-and-butter;
2. The interpretation of data;
3. The full organization and synthesis which formally combines both underlying rungs.

One should realize that the use of the term hierarchy does not suggest fleeting notes are less important than permanent notes; rather, it is used to highlight a stepwise process. Although the culmination is the permanent note, it is a synthetic culmination; all other notes are of equal importance.