v Why is having knowledge good? Is it bad to fail to have/attain knowledge? Is it a moral failing to turn away from knowledge? Consider a specific, real example, like sexual harassment (although you can use a different example). Have I failed if I deliberately choose to avoid learning about a friend/colleague/neighbor behavior?
v Regarding Sexual Harassment, what do we mean by “know”? How do I know when I am being harassed? When I am harassing? What standard of knowledge do I need to employ in order to take punitive action (pressing charges, telling others that so-and-so is a harasser, etc.)? Refer to Section 5 of the SEP “Epistemology”.
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Having knowledge is good because it could save lives.Having knowledge in the healthcare field is just one example. Knowing whether you have just a cold or something worse needs to be known. Early detection on certain illnesses can also help people from getting past the point of no return. Back in the day people use to die from simple things like the flu, STDs, and pneumonia. The flu can now be treated at home, most STDs can be cured with a quick visit to the doctor, and pneumonia can be fixed with a short term stay at a hospital. Meteorology is another example of knowledge that can save lives. The way weather has been lately especially. Early warning of tornadoes allow us to seek cover earlier and avoid being hurt or killed. The sirens that sound off when the weather looks like it may spawn a tornado has saved countless lived in its short time of being used. Knowledge is priceless and should be taken in at every chance that you get.
ReplyDeleteHaving knowledge is good; the persuit of knowledge is a journey. We enter into a college program and choose a major of study. In doing so, we are choosing the type of knowledge that we want to obtain and choosing the type of knowledge that we don't. Though we choose to not obtain a certain knowledge, I do not see that as failure. There is so much out there to learn and learning all of it is not possible. We can not know everything but, at the same time, should strive to know more. We pick and choose what knowledge we want to obtain based on necessity, passion, and interest. By necessity, i mean street smarts; what do i need to know to survive in my environment? (social or otherwise).
ReplyDeleteOur passions and our interests drive us to persue lives of meaning, happiness, and also contribute to the progression of humanity. We each have our passions and interests; driving forces for learning. If we follow these and grow in our knowledge of what we know now; build on that and progress to new levels of understanding, we become that much closer to true knowledge.
I guess what I'm getting at is that we all contribute knowledge in our own ways, through our passions and interests. We must first choose what knowledge we wish to obtain and what knowlege we don't; we can't know it all and that is not failure.