I wrote before that the root of all evil is arrogance, the belief that you are more valuable/important then another human being for ANY reason whatsoever. But where does arrogance come from? Why is it present in one shape or another in every human being on the planet? Are we born arrogant? Yes and no, arrogance is the result of a lack of knowledge or an unwillingness to learn.
Ignorance is simply not knowing something; for instance, I am completely ignorant of advanced math, medicine, rap music, and the workings of a computer because I know absolutely nothing about those subjects. This kind of ignorance I call unintentional ignorance, and it is, needless to say, impossible to avoid. No one knows everything, so there is always going to be something out there that you are ignorant of. It is not the ignorance itself which is the problem here, its making judgments based upon that ignorance. I cannot make any sort of judgments on a Doctors medical procedures because, although I may know a little about medicine, anything I assume to be true would most likely be based on ignorance. To make assumptions based on ignorance and false information unwittingly leads to arrogance if one is not aware of what they are doing. They will believe themselves to be right despite arguments to the contrary. This kind of ignorance isn’t overall that bad, as long as one realizes when faced with the facts that they are wrong. Everyone is unwillingly ignorant of one thing or another, but it isn’t a problem if you recognize your ignorance; as Socrates once said, true wisdom is knowing that you are ignorant.
The kind of ignorance I’m most concerned about is willing ignorance. When someone bases a view on unwilling ignorance, is then faced with the facts, and still refuses to concede his position, that is willing ignorance and it is the cause for arrogance. People who deny scientific, historical, and mathematical proof because of a pre conceived belief are only kidding themselves into living in a false world derived of true knowledge. Stuff like this happens a lot in politics, for instance when a politician denies the existence of global warming despite the overwhelming evidence for it, that is called willing ignorance. When a racist insists that there is a difference between the races and that their race is somehow better despite being shown that there really isn’t any difference at all, that’s willing ignorance.
So what is the solution? Simply this, learn. Learn as much as is possible about the world, any kind of knowledge will do. The pursuit of knowledge won’t just make you a better informed and successful person, it will also open your eyes to the ignorance you once had and make you a more moral person as well. Seek out the truth about the world, examine the theories of philosophy, politics, etc, and if there be a subject you just can’t stand (math and science for me) simply admit your ignorance and submit your views to the authorities in those subjects. You can’t know everything, but the knowledge of the world and your wisdom to know you don’t and can’t know everything will make you a more productive and moral human being.
Ignorance is simply not knowing something; for instance, I am completely ignorant of advanced math, medicine, rap music, and the workings of a computer because I know absolutely nothing about those subjects. This kind of ignorance I call unintentional ignorance, and it is, needless to say, impossible to avoid. No one knows everything, so there is always going to be something out there that you are ignorant of. It is not the ignorance itself which is the problem here, its making judgments based upon that ignorance. I cannot make any sort of judgments on a Doctors medical procedures because, although I may know a little about medicine, anything I assume to be true would most likely be based on ignorance. To make assumptions based on ignorance and false information unwittingly leads to arrogance if one is not aware of what they are doing. They will believe themselves to be right despite arguments to the contrary. This kind of ignorance isn’t overall that bad, as long as one realizes when faced with the facts that they are wrong. Everyone is unwillingly ignorant of one thing or another, but it isn’t a problem if you recognize your ignorance; as Socrates once said, true wisdom is knowing that you are ignorant.
The kind of ignorance I’m most concerned about is willing ignorance. When someone bases a view on unwilling ignorance, is then faced with the facts, and still refuses to concede his position, that is willing ignorance and it is the cause for arrogance. People who deny scientific, historical, and mathematical proof because of a pre conceived belief are only kidding themselves into living in a false world derived of true knowledge. Stuff like this happens a lot in politics, for instance when a politician denies the existence of global warming despite the overwhelming evidence for it, that is called willing ignorance. When a racist insists that there is a difference between the races and that their race is somehow better despite being shown that there really isn’t any difference at all, that’s willing ignorance.
So what is the solution? Simply this, learn. Learn as much as is possible about the world, any kind of knowledge will do. The pursuit of knowledge won’t just make you a better informed and successful person, it will also open your eyes to the ignorance you once had and make you a more moral person as well. Seek out the truth about the world, examine the theories of philosophy, politics, etc, and if there be a subject you just can’t stand (math and science for me) simply admit your ignorance and submit your views to the authorities in those subjects. You can’t know everything, but the knowledge of the world and your wisdom to know you don’t and can’t know everything will make you a more productive and moral human being.
3 comments:
Jonathan
This is the position many atheist take about religion, that it is willful ignorance. A religious person starts with a preconceived notion that a supreme being exists and either ignores or does not look at the evidence that demonstrates that throughout time god after god has been shown to be nothing more than man-made inventions to assuage the fear of the unknown. Christians dismiss all the other gods, because well, they have a book, supposedly divinely inspired, but clearly showing the limitations of the minds of the period. And their big selling point, the resurrection, is based on a feat which is known to be physically impossible, the evidence for which, is shady at best.
You are correct. The best way to fight ignorance is through learning. But never submit to any "authority" on religion, because there really aren't any. There may be some that have studied it their entire lives and know more about it than anyone else. But in the end, it is always open for interpretation, and no one can absolutely say anything is correct or incorrect with final authority.
As for arrogance being the root of all evil, I'll have to go back and read your thread on that. Off the top of my head, I'd say selfishness plays a part too. I guess they'd go hand-in-hand, really. Belief of self-importance over others would justify selfishness.
Hey, me again. I put a comment in your Root of all evil post. :-)
when it comes to religion it really is a matter of personal choice. There is no way to know to an absolute certainty one way or the other if God is real or not, there are arguments for both sides but no proof does, and no proof can, exist. living a religious life isn't willing ignorance unless you refuse to open your mind to the opposing sides viewpoints, since no proof can exist either way believing either way isn't ignorance, its simply coming to a conclusion based on your knowledge (hopefully) and yes your upbringing. any belief not based on knowledge will ultimately fail you, this is why you must base your beliefs on knowledge. to base your beliefs on anything else and then refuse to be open to opposing viewpoints is ignorance.
as to submitting to authority in religious, that kind of knowledge isn't what I'm talking about. I'm talking about knowledge we can really KNOW like math, science, history, building, law, etc. stuff of the world which people CAN know is what you should submit to authority, after doing some research of course. on religion, philosophy, theology, etc, where you can't know for sure, you have to make up your own mind in the end, otherwise your belief will fail you when you need it most.
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