"Mystery creates wonder, and wonder is the basis of man's desire to understand." -Neil Armstrong.
These three things are elusive subjects. Each of them is somewhat objective to the individual. One may claim that they are not ignorant, and are in fact quite knowledgeable, when in fact this individual is completely ignorant, yet very knowledgeable. I stated very early on that one of my main motivations in life is the pursuit of knowledge. But, what is knowledge, and how does it effect our life? In an attempt to examine this, I will draw from the understanding of some that I believe to be the most intelligent and knowledgeable individuals that the earth has fostered. Let us learn together.
Ignorance
"Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity." -Martin Luther King Jr.
Merriam-Webster's dictionary defines ignorance as "a lack of knowledge or information." By this definition, everyone is ignorant. Blatantly ignorant. How many things do we do on a daily basis without a second thought. Think of driving a car for instance. We may be educated on the laws of the road, but are we comfortably familiar with all of them? Do we understand how an internal combustion engine works? Have we obtained enough information in order to not be ignorant of what is happening around us while we drive? Are we all ignorant drivers?
This definition allows for varying levels of ignorance. I have a vague idea of how a combustion engine works, but I do not have enough information and knowledge to construct one. So I am partially ignorant of how my car is able to work. Shakespeare once said, "there is no darkness but ignorance." This kind of darkness terrifies me, and everyday I strive to get closer to a sunrise of knowledge in my life. I have the benefit of being part of a University where everyday my world becomes a little brighter. But this is not sufficient. Each of us, regardless of age, social status, or creed, should make an effort to escape the eternal darkness that is ignorance. James Madison, the scribe of the Constitution and Bill of Rights, said, "Knowledge will forever govern ignorance; and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives."
Isaac Asimov stated, "There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there has always been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge."
Ignorance isn't just a darkness of the mind. Ignorance is the destruction of democracy. Ignorance leads to inequality and injustice. True are Plato's words, "Ignorance, the root and stem of all evil."
Intelligence
"I know that I am intelligent, because I know that I know nothing." -Socrates
I have a very optimistic and altruistic view of the world. I believe that people are inherently good, and will tend to do the right thing, devoid of influence. I believe that intelligence is the natural state of humankind. Intelligence is defined as, "the ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills." You can see intelligence in the actions of a new born child. Neil deGrasse Tyson describes children as "natural scientists," and I can't agree with him more. They explore their environments, constantly picking up unfamiliar objects and putting them in their mouths. The amazing network of nerves in the lips and tongue allow tremendous brain growth and information acquisition. The entirety of childhood is an experiment to learn about the world and how to interact with it. Albert Einstein said, "The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge, but imagination."
Intelligence is our natural state, at least until we become lazy. At some point, we grow tired of our childhood wonder, and ignorance begins to shadow our minds. The extent that this happens depends mostly on our actions to combat it. When we make an effort to become smarter every day, we may be able to stay in the light of knowledge. But when we do not make an effort, darkness and apathy quickly overtake our world.
Knowledge
"Liberty cannot be preserved without general knowledge among the people." -John Adams.
Knowledge is the result of acquiring information. We are bombarded by information every day, and each piece has the potential to become knowledge. Scientific fact, opinion, skills, and religiosity are all candidates in the race for knowledge. We should be careful as to what we accept into our mind, though. The Irish playwright and activist, George Bernard Shaw, said, "Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance." To ensure that our knowledge is correct, we should ensure that the information we accept comes from reputable sources. We should also make sure that our facts are solidly grounded and have the support of an ocean of other facts behind them. If we fail to do this, we may end up like the individual I mentioned at the beginning of the article, full of knowledge, yet completely ignorant.
As we make an effort to fill our lives with true knowledge, we will leave the night of ignorance, and be able to walk in the light of day. For those that have lived their life in ignorance, this may be difficult. Plato's allegory of the cave is a great example of this.
If the words spoken by Plato before are true, and ignorance really is the root and stem of all evil, than the root and stem of all good would be knowledge. When more and more people embrace knowledge and attempt to incorporate it into their daily lives, the world will become a better place. Knowledge will save democracy. Knowledge will save the world.
Thanks for reading.
If you are interested in combating ignorance and acquiring knowledge, below are some potential subjects and resources.
Expand your Horizon (I suggest listening to "Don't Fear Math" and "Bias and Perception")