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skip_divided

- 3 years ago

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Is Knowledge a Burden or a Benefit?

Does being aware of problems in our society, environment, and within ourselves create more problems? I sometimes admire those who are oblivious to their surroundings. Those who don't recycle, whos' opinions were given to them, who watch television 20-40 hours a week. If only I could crawl back into my burrow of ignorance. Of course, I don't wish this all the time, just when I feel overwhelmed with all the problems our world is riddled with.

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I have to say, In a Sense, both. I cant think of a better way to say how knowledge benefits and also how it can fall into the wrong hands, so to say.

Ignorance is never beneficial. Ever. EVER.

I think both. Knowledge is enabling power. It is also the mandate to act. The words "Morally Compelling" are echoing in my head...with...Dr. King's voice... :)

Knowledge is only a burden if you believe that you are responsible for changing what is as a result of this knowledge. All problems are mind creations. As long as one is fretting over all the problems one is mentally resisting what is. Without accepting that this is the way things are the solutions cannot come to you.

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"Ignorance is bliss" .. The double edge of knowledge surely brings it burdens of responsibilities along side its powerful awareness... .... .. what a great question.. :)

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Knowledge is a privilege. Knowing means power, it's a benefit. But power is probably the biggest burden that is known. Having power is tempting, and only the strongest of us can resist the hunger for more. The hard part is using knowledge and other powers a good way. Not just for the good, there are many ways that are supposed to lead to the good, but walking them is actually a bad thing. A power must be used a good 'way' from the beginning. So after all, i also think knowledge is both.

If ignorance was really all that enviable, would you really accept a pill to make you so? Knowledge is a responsibility, to be sure. The real issue you seem to be having is not with having knowledge, but in mitigating your feelings of responsibility. You have to realize the change you are capable of affecting, and then weigh where you should put the effort. To give you an external perspective -- observe someone ignorant. :-) (Noooo... not me this time). Consider the sum total of "good" they do for the world. Can they do more good with a little less ignorance? Sure they can! Even if they just do slightly better for the world, their sum total has been improved. Now look at yourself again. You do not need to be perfect. You simply need to be better. You have to weigh the things that you are capable of doing with the things you have energy reserves to actually accomplish. And as you exercise your new "better" self, however slight the improvement, you will find you have opportunities to do slightly more. If you do so much that you break down into a gurgling shell, you will be unable to do any good at all. So relax... the world had problems before you got here, and it will have problems after you leave. Do what you can and don't beat yourself up. Have empathy for others, and help reduce their ignorance when and if you can. So, with knowledge, you have the choice to do good or not. With ignorance, you have no choice at all. Don't forget your empathy. I think I am smart, but I realize how woefully ignorant I am about so many things. So I do what I can and then go watch an episode of "Lost". (Kidding, I don't watch Lost... "They're on the island, they are off the island. Who ... can follow that show?").

I think that it is both. It is a benefit to the knowledgeable because they can prepare and ready themselves for the possibilities, but it is also a burden because it forces you to deal with some pretty heavy stuff sometimes. Knowledge opens the door to freedom, but with freedom comes responsibility. It's a total catch 22.

@skip_divided Asheville

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Is Knowledge a Burden or a Benefit?

Hiro9921

I have to say, In a Sense, both. I cant think of a better way to say how knowledge benefits and also how it can fall into the wrong hands, so to say.

krillinhazuki

Ignorance is never beneficial. Ever. EVER.

icgrayscale

I think both. Knowledge is enabling power. It is also the mandate to act. The words "Morally Compelling" are echoing in my head...with...Dr. King's voice... :)

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calholli

"Ignorance is bliss" .. The double edge of knowledge surely brings it burdens of responsibilities along side its powerful awareness... .... .. what a great question.. :)

Tea

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philg

dancingplatypus

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Is Knowledge a Burden or a Benefit?

I have to say, In a Sense, both. I cant think of a better way to say how knowledge benefits and also how it can fall into the wrong hands, so to say.

Ignorance is never beneficial. Ever. EVER.

I think both. Knowledge is enabling power. It is also the mandate to act. The words "Morally Compelling" are echoing in my head...with...Dr. King's voice... :)

(Binary/Image)

"Ignorance is bliss" .. The double edge of knowledge surely brings it burdens of responsibilities along side its powerful awareness... .... .. what a great question.. :)

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