“Taxonomies are always less than perfect and most often far less than perfect for helping people find and refind information they need.”

Exactly! This is the incorrect underlying assumption in Peterson’s argument…there *is* no system that gives right answers all the time. (and be suspicious if one claims to)

The best a taxonomy can do is to make the many seem like the few by organizing information to be conceptually simpler…and that’s no small thing. They’re very valuable…but we can’t take their authority for granted, ever.

Also, I would add to your argument by saying that different people have different strategies for finding/refinding stuff. Nobody does it in the same way, and therefore multiple systems might suit multiple people. Some people might like taxonomies better…so give them that. I, personally, really like folksonomies, so give me that. It’s just software at this point…we can provide both rather easily.