The universal message of Socrates\u2014\u201cI know that I know nothing\u201d\u2014retains its profound relevance today. The ancient philosopher\u2019s wisdom lay in the awareness of his own ignorance and in his humility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It has to be said that in our times that\u2019s definitely not the most prevailing attitude. In the company of others, we hope that it\u2019s our knowledge that shines through, and not the lack of it. No one wants to admit to not knowing something, or not reading a book that is considered part of a canon. That sort of attitude is shaped by our education and our parents. Nobody dreams of becoming ignorant. But is it really that big a deal to be lacking in knowledge?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
An Act of Courage: Admitting to Not Knowing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The more we know, the more conscious we are of the things we are clueless about. Is it worth deluding yourself when it comes to knowledge? Is becoming aware of ignorance not the first step on the road to pursue knowledge? You can\u2019t pour anything into a full glass. You need empty space to fill it with something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Confessing to ignorance is the way modern science opens up to new possibilities. As one door closes, another one opens. Harari notes that modern scientific revolutions were not the revolutions of knowledge but of ignorance which informed their origins. At the heart of every novel theory lay the realization that, \u201chumans do not know the answers to their most important questions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In past cultures, if one didn\u2019t know something, all one had to do was to go to the oldest person in the tribe, who was typically considered the most knowledgeable, ask them a question, and dispel any doubts that way. There was no space for discovering anything new. Religion was another repository of knowledge with many readily available answers. The general rule was that what we didn\u2019t know was not important for us, and therefore we weren\u2019t supposed to ask about it. Everything seemed a lot simpler than it is today. People didn’t feel shame in their lack of knowledge because there was a perfect explanation for this. They didn\u2019t need to know anything that was of no use to them. When everyone believes they know everything, it means they know very little.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As an institution, science readily acknowledges its collective ignorance. That\u2019s not necessarily the case with individual scientists. Even Darwin openly acknowledged his ignorance and stressed that he was not sure if he really did finally solve the mystery of life. And he was right about that\u2014even though his research was a quantum leap in biology, present-day biologists are yet to explain why the brain creates consciousness. Physicists candidly admit they don\u2019t know what caused the Big Bang, not to mention they are not sure how to make quantum mechanics compatible with the general theory of relativity. Politicians argue all the time, each championing what they believe is the optimal economic model for their nation. Even though none of them will admit to being ignorant, most citizens can clearly see that elected officials sometimes seem lost and act cluelessly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Only the recognition of missing answers to some of our questions makes us more prone to exploring the inner workings of the world and introducing new theories or technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As scientists became aware of these gaps in understanding, searching for new sources of knowledge became a necessity. The emphasis shifted from solely studying ancient traditions to making new observations and experimenting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUntil the Scientific Revolution most human cultures did not believe in progress,\u201d observes Harari. Many \u201cbelieved that some day a messiah would appear and end all wars, famines and even death itself.\u201d Necessity is the mother of invention. Recognizing a need underscores a deficiency, and such deficiencies often arise from ignorance. This realization acts as a potent motivator in our quest for answers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Had Scottish bacteriologist Alexander Fleming not recognized the gaps in understanding bacterial growth, he might never have discovered penicillin in 1928, a breakthrough that saved countless lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Over the last few years, modern science has achieved miracles, mostly due to the willingness of governments and business to invest vast sums in scientific research. We may not find the answers to every question niggling at the back of our minds, but we can certainly attempt to unravel the most fundamental mysteries. Searching for answers\u2014not just finding them\u2014should be a noble goal in itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the Cambridge Dictionary, ignoramus is \u201ca person who knows nothing.\u201d When somebody lacks basic knowledge\u2014or any knowledge at all\u2014in a particular subject, we call them \u201cignorant.\u201d That\u2019s a pejorative term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI know that I know nothing.\u201d You can say that again. And lucky for us! It\u2019s good to know, but it might be good not to know, as long as not knowing spurs us into action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You may also like:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/holistic.news\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Midjourney-Maciej-Kochanowski-1024x574.png\")
Ignorance: The Catalyst of Progress<\/h2>\n\n\n\n