The Exploration of Evolution of Knowledge Network

This paper explores evolution of the notion of knowledge network for the first time. Firstly, the evolution of the concept of knowledge network is discussed from "network of scientific papers" by Price to Brooks\´ "knowledge map", "knowledge gene" and "knowledge network". Secondly, various concepts in different research viewpoints and research background in the evolution of the concept of knowledge network are analyzed. Four theories are concluded as "theory of map", "theory of gene", "theory of network" and "theory of knowledge forms" from the aspect of discipline of science. Finely, philosophical rules of the concept evolution of knowledge network are expounded.