Larry Sanger, co-founder of the Wikipedia encyclopedia, is working to replace the current Wikipedia platform with a much-improved version. As Wikipedia goes into its 25th anniversary, Sanger has released his Nine Theses on Wikipedia. This work is to help share his vision for building a more equitable, inclusive, and transparent encyclopedia. He proposes the abolition of source blacklists and the end of consensus-based decision-making. He goes on to demand an end to the permanent banning of platform rule violating editors.
Sanger, then a philosopher, came to San Diego at the beginning of 2000 to start building new encyclopedia projects. He was instrumental in getting Wikipedia off the ground in its public, planetary-encompassing launch on January 15, 2001. His criticisms of the platform have been outspoken and scathing, especially when it comes to its alleged neutrality and its editorial policies. He agrees that these reforms are necessary. They will go a long way towards bringing back the original spirit of Wikipedia, which was founded on the idea of providing free knowledge to all.
The Nine Theses and Their Implications
Two years later, in 2025, Sanger published his “Nine Theses on Wikipedia.” This collection describes his reform proposals to address the problems he identifies as existing within the platform. One of our proposals is to eliminate source blacklists. In their complaint, he contends that these discriminatory blacklists limit the diversity of views presented to users. Sanger argues that this tactic violates Wikipedia’s original purpose of creating a neutral, non-ideological encyclopedia.
Sanger seeks an end to consensus-based decision-making on Wikipedia. He contends that this ‘innovation theater’ approach almost always leads to stagnation and keeps the most innovative, creative, world-changing ideas from ever getting a chance. Instead, he calls for an improved decision making process — one that includes the voices of many perspectives but with the power to hold accountable.
Sanger recommends eliminating the practice of indefinitely blocking rule-breaking editors. He argues for fairness and transparency throughout the selection process. He argues that the way things are set up now unfairly penalizes those who contribute. This method silences constructive feedback from well-informed experts who are capable of erring.
“It’s sad to me because I do feel that these people are often treated badly by Wikipedia.” – Larry Sanger
A Philosophical Perspective on Neutrality
Sanger’s philosophical training greatly colors his views on neutrality in Wikipedia. He doesn’t just argue for neutrality in journalism but in educational materials as well. Sanger thinks it provides a great place for students to be exposed to all perspectives and help them learn how to make those decisions well.
He traded stories on the current status of Wikipedia’s neutrality policies, which he recently described at bolditalic.com as having gone astray from the founders’ spirit. Sanger is ready to reawaken these principles. He wants to make sure that Wikipedia continues to be a place where everyone’s voice can be applied and counterbalanced equally judged.
“The reason that I love neutrality as much as I do is that in education, in journalism, and in reference works, it allows people who are learning… to have the full range of views to consider so that they can make up their minds as rationally as they can for themselves,” – Larry Sanger
His commitment to restoring Wikipedia’s neutrality invites him to ask broader questions about Wikipedia’s prevailing editorial standards. He argues that these standards benefit established media outlets and disadvantage alternative voices.
Tensions with Co-Founder Jimmy Wales
Sanger’s critiques have created a noticeable rift between him and Jimmy Wales, Wikipedia’s other co-founder. It seems the two haven’t interacted since then. Opposed as they are to one another’s vision for Wikipedia’s future, Sanger acknowledges that it’s made their ability to communicate fall apart.
“It’s been such a long time since I’ve been there; there hasn’t been a need for us to interact, and I think he has been insulted at some of the things that I’ve said about Wikipedia.” – Larry Sanger
Wales has previously defended Wikipedia’s editorial policies, explaining that the emphasis on high-quality sources is core to upholding the platform’s integrity. He argues strongly against the notion that Wikipedia should give equal weight to every source. He calls for high editorial standards to guarantee accuracy and reliability.
“The idea that everything is an equally valid source… is not something I can apologise for,” – Jimmy Wales
Both co-founders fundamentally agree on a key value — the need to disseminate knowledge. Their approaches to this goal differ drastically when it comes to how exactly this goal should be achieved.
The Future of Wikipedia
As Wikipedia begins its second decade, these conversations about governance and editorial practice are critical. Sanger’s Nine Theses challenge the status quo and invite discourse about how knowledge is curated and presented on one of the internet’s most visited platforms.
With nearly 250,000 volunteers contributing to over 65 million articles across 300 languages, Wikipedia has become a cornerstone of online knowledge. Its story through the years is a testament to how far we’ve come, just like how much further we have to go.
Sanger’s alarmist screeds weren’t enough, so he persisted. Now we can only hope how these proposals and discussions will influence the future of the Wikimedia movement. The community’s response will likely shape not only the platform’s operational guidelines but its overarching mission as a free resource for global knowledge.
“While some questioned its veracity in the early days, the site today has become the backbone of knowledge on the internet.” – Anusha Alikhan
