Zettelkasten
What is it?
Terms
Zettelkasten is German for ‘slip box’ or ‘card index’.
- Zettelkasten
- slip/note/file/card-box/index
- plural: Zettelkästen
- Zettel
- note/card
- plural: Zettel
Concepts
- The Zettelkasten method enables users to store and organize knowledge, extend their memory, and generate new connections and ideas.
- The original system that we refer to was developed by the prolific German social theorist, Niklas Luhmann, who viewed it as a “partner” in his writing process.1
- Luhmann’s Zettelkasten consisted of wooden boxes containing over 60,000 notes written on small slips of paper.
- In the modern age, we can use digital tools to emulate this system.
- Why is it different from taking regular notes?# - The difference between regular note-taking and the Zettelkasten system.
- How to implement# - How you can use digital tools to create your own Zettelkasten.
Explore
Resources
Community
- Examples of Zettelkasten/ Wikis/ Digital Gardens# - Explore what others are doing with their Zettelkasten.
- Discussion Forums# - Discuss and ask questions about the method.
Luhmann’s explanation
↩︎