The benefit of knowledge?

[TheFifthElement]

You live and learn, then die and forget it all...

What is the benefit of knowledge? Humans covet knowledge, we spend all our lives seeking it, we question it, we want to understand it, but why? Does knowledge bring real benefit, or is it just a distraction, a way to pass the time?

If you think that knowledge brings value, how do you separate 'good' knowledge, and that which is valueless?

[barbara0207]

Good question.

Humankind is curious by nature - because of a highly developed brain, it seems. So most people take it for granted that knowledge is a good thing.

What if human knowledge had not increased over the millennia? We would probably still live in caves (if we had the knowledge how to use them), there would be no dentists and I would probably be toothless - if I had survived at all (people did not get older than 30 on average at that time). There wouldn't be lots of things we cherish today.

But on the other hand there would be no guns and bombs, no car/plane crashes, no lawyers ( ) and so forth.

So take your choice.

[NikolaiI]

In psychotherapy they have some assumptions about knowledge, or information. They say the more information you have, the more likely you are to make decisions conducive to growth, but another factor you have to consider is if the information has been correctly 'programmed.' I forget exactly what that means but I think it has to do with receiving conflicting messages, but it also has to do with how you look at the world, how you yourself have been programmed. For instance, if you were told you "could never do anything," or were "helpless." Those statements are exaggerations at best, but in reality very defeating and hurtful.

So that's one stance, but that's more from an individual's point of view, about one's own life.

Technology and science, for instance, bring medicine which is generally beneficial, but also weapon technology which is usually destructive.

I think knowledge if it is true knowledge is usually a good thing, unless we have ill intentions.

Also, humans have an amazing ability for pattern-recognizing and assimilating, so while knowledge is a way to pass the time, it also gives us intuition. And it can make us smarter, since we use our learning ability, exercise our minds, our critical thinking and memory. In chess for instance, many grandmasters hold memorizing games to be the best way to improve one's ability at the game, as well as knowledge and understanding. Just repeating the games until you can do so without the game score- this has an interesting way of increasing skill.

[Lote-Tree]

You live and learn, then die and forget it all...

Not really. You pass on these on to your offspring. So that they may survive better and pass on their genes.

What is the benefit of knowledge? Humans covet knowledge, we spend all our lives seeking it, we question it, we want to understand it, but why?

Sheer curiosity.

Art is useless!! There is no value in it. So why create it? Because we admire it.

Does knowledge bring real benefit, or is it just a distraction, a way to pass the time?

Yes. Allows you to survive and pass on your genes to your offspring.

If you think that knowledge brings value, how do you separate 'good' knowledge, and that which is valueless?

There is no good knowledge and bad knowledge. But anything that allows you and the species to survive can be a "good" knowledge.

[TheFifthElement]

Not really. You pass on these on to your offspring. So that they may survive better and pass on their genes.

Only if you have offspring....

Sheer curiosity.

Art is useless!! There is no value in it. So why create it? Because we admire it.

Interesting point - is art useless? There was a time when I'd have agreed with you but now I wonder - didn't writing evolve from art? Letters are a pictoral representation of a concept, what about numbers, mathematics, geometry, TV?!!!!

There is no good knowledge and bad knowledge. But anything that allows you and the species to survive can be a "good" knowledge.

So, knowing who got kicked out of Big Brother could be 'good' knowledge?

What if human knowledge had not increased over the millennia? We would probably still live in caves (if we had the knowledge how to use them), there would be no dentists and I would probably be toothless - if I had survived at all (people did not get older than 30 on average at that time). There wouldn't be lots of things we cherish today.

Interesting point, but is it 'knowledge' that has increased, or understanding? I don't know how radio's work (but I'm working on it) but I understand what radio is for, how to use it, and how to benefit from it.

[Lote-Tree]

[QUOTE=TheFifthElement;430834]Only if you have offspring....

Then you have decided that you knowledge is not worth passing on to your offspring.

Interesting point - is art useless? There was a time when I'd have agreed with you but now I wonder - didn't writing evolve from art? Letters are a pictoral representation of a concept, what about numbers, mathematics, geometry, TV?!!!!

Art is useless in the terms that it has no survival value for the species. Only human species produces art and the rest of the species on this planet survive quite well without art.

So, knowing who got kicked out of Big Brother could be 'good' knowledge?

That would be useless knowledge ;-) like people who collect pictures of pylons

[TheFifthElement]

Art is useless in the terms that it has no survival value for the species. Only human species produces art and the rest of the species on this planet survive quite well without art.

Ooh, interesting point. This brings me back to the original question of what is 'good' knowledge, and what is valueless/useless knowledge. If survival is the answer to this then much of what we 'know' is useless, as we can survive on instinct alone. Whether we would flourish is a different question. If you think about it, technology is not required for survival, it just makes the odds a bit better. Taking your point, the rest of the species on the planet survive quite well without medicine, so knowledge of medicine is useless too?

That would be useless knowledge ;-) like people who collect pictures of pylons

How do you know about my photo collection?..... (I love pylons!)

[Barlo]

Taking your point, the rest of the species on the planet survive quite well without medicine, so knowledge of medicine is useless too?

Great point there, that is just what I wanted to point out to lote-tree. And another thing, I am of the opinion that art is not useless, on the contrary art can be quite enlightening for people who have understanding of it. I recently read Plato's "Republic" and he also insisted that art is very useless, but his arguments were really odd. I would dare to say that he did not understand art, at least not the way most people do. So as I said, art can give knowledge to some people as same as philosophy. Though art can never compare to philosophy(in my opinion) in general.

And to answer you question - people gain knowledge for two reasons: To feed their curiosity and to gain practical benefit from it. So "good" knowledge is everything that you learn and that can also help you to become a "better" person(I know it sounds childish, but keep in mind that every person has to find what is it that makes them better persons). So you gain knowledge primary to find out what is it that pleases you, what is your call in life and secondary (when u find the first thing) to pursue those things.

[TheFifthElement]

And another thing, I am of the opinion that art is not useless, on the contrary art can be quite enlightening for people who have understanding of it.

I entirely agree with you. Art started with cave paintings, and reflects mans desire to communicate with man. What started as cave painting evolved into letters, and written forms of communication, which have vastly enhanced our ability to understand each other. Art, in its various forms, is communication, and communication is not useless (except in pubs, when perhaps cave paintings is about the highest level of skill that can be expected?!)

And to answer you question - people gain knowledge for two reasons: To feed their curiosity and to gain practical benefit from it. So "good" knowledge is everything that you learn and that can also help you to become a "better" person(I know it sounds childish, but keep in mind that every person has to find what is it that makes them better persons). So you gain knowledge primary to find out what is it that pleases you, what is your call in life and secondary (when u find the first thing) to pursue those things.

I like this concept because this indicates that the value of any knowledge is subjective, that it is a valuable as the person acquiring it believes it to be.

[Lote-Tree]

Ooh, interesting point. This brings me back to the original question of what is 'good' knowledge

A good knowledge is anything that allows an individual or the species some survival value.

If survival is the answer to this then much of what we 'know' is useless, as we can survive on instinct alone.

But we have become masters of surviving so we can accumulate a lot of useless knowledge

If you think about it, technology is not required for survival, it just makes the odds a bit better.

That's it! Yes it makes the odd little better. Spear bringing down a Woolly mamoth which is better than a pick-axe.

Taking your point, the rest of the species on the planet survive quite well without medicine, so knowledge of medicine is useless too?

Some species produces their own medicine. Anti-venom for instance.

How do you know about my photo collection?..... (I love pylons!)

[/quote]

I am sure you do

[RichardHresko]

In order to understand what the benefit is of A for B we need to understand what B is, and thereby what sorts of things would benefit it.

If we start from a position that human beings are solely material organisms with no qualitative difference from any other animals, then Lote-Tree's position follows.

If, on the other hand, it means something qualitatively different to lead a human life, then his answer is at minimum insufficient.

[blazeofglory]

You live and learn, then die and forget it all...

What is the benefit of knowledge? Humans covet knowledge, we spend all our lives seeking it, we question it, we want to understand it, but why? Does knowledge bring real benefit, or is it just a distraction, a way to pass the time?

If you think that knowledge brings value, how do you separate 'good' knowledge, and that which is valueless?

This is an interesting question, and of course harrowing too, and as a matter of fact what we call knowledge fades away at the end of the day, and of course meaninglessly, and no knowledge remains.

[wilbur lim]

This is a cliche doubt,it's simply that we want to compete in our lives with one another.If you are stupid,then others will look down smugly at you.If you are intelligent,ironically you will be praised.This thing makes people envious and it is patent in today.This is the fundamental one.

Next,your doubt 'how to separate 'good' knowledge and which another is valueless?' needs me to cite that no one can be OMNISCIENT.Teaching is the remedy.Being a basic person is also the one,and by having faith in God.When we don't have good knowledge doesn't mean we sinned.God can forgive.

[blazeofglory]

In fact at times ignorance is bliss, and if you are ignorant, and do not care about your future you are certainly happier than those who take too many cares.

The richer you become or the more you are intelligent the unhappier you are. If you are rich you take too much care about your wealth and if you are intellectual you fear at times lest your level of

intellectuality will go down

.

So when you are burdened with something they heavily on you, and you are not free.

You can tell the rest that with money and intelligence you are smarter and happier but you know better whether you are really burdened with all these substances or you are free.

Therefore, both money and knowledge can not give you freedom.

[RichardHresko]

Therefore, both money and knowledge can not give you freedom.

Yes, but they do allow you to accessorize your chains imaginatively. And if we are barred from knowledge of reality there really isn't much left then besides that.