I decided that I'd like to explore this idea of knowledge a bit more. After re-reading my post from the other day, I've come to realize that it only scratched the surface and could, and as any 300-500 word post is prone too, be misread. So, I am going to talk some more about knowledge and it's social implications and where it should be placed in people's lives.
When I said that knowledge is a dangerous commodity, I focused my attention inward; discussing the personal implications of an acquirement of knowledge. However, there is another danger to knowledge; something I would like to call the anti-intellectual bias. We live in a time when knowledge of any kind is readily accessible. The internet provides us with the resources to research a topic, learn it's nuances and even engage in conversation with other people about this. It is, in it's purest form, a good thing. It has the potential to bring the wide swath of human knowledge to anyone and this should be celebrated! Unfortunately, it is having a disastrous consequence. What I am talking about is the lack of care that most people take towards this influx of knowledge. If it's on the internet, then it must be true, or at least partly. Consequently, if someone does hours upon hours of research on something, there is a tendency to feel like one is an expert on the topic. The idea that the quantity of the time is more important than the quality of the material. This is almost always done unconsciously, as few are aware that they have been trained, by their culture, to think in such terms.
The problem with this is it makes the person feel like an expert, a type of "lay scholar." This is where the anti-intellectual bias comes into play. If someone begins to view themselves in this way, which is a natural progression from this increase in knowledge, then they start to distrust the "establishment." This distrust of establishment is incredibly nuanced, but can be expressed in one way. The intellectual bourgeoisie seek to lord it over the working class, "average American." There has always been an idea that seeking disciplines such as English or Philosophy is in no way "real" as someone who is doing 40+ work in retail or industry, it seems, be more invested in "real life." This is a dangerous idea though, as people in academia, generally the home of the "intellectual," are seen as not as "real" as the guy working at Target. However, human beings are human beings, and that someone who chose to engage their mind in study instead of work a "typical" job does not make them any one more or less real. These "intellectuals" still have feelings, love, have children, get divorced, care for their animals and want to see the best for their loved ones. They are just as "real" as anyone else.
This anti-intellectual bias becomes further problematic when you enter the realm of conspiracy. Take all the biases and internet searching that I talked about previously, and add a wealth of individuals who seemingly agree with you and you have the making for mass hysteria. It is assumed, since conspiracy theories are not the "general view" of society that they are somewhat more "real" than the popular view. This "hidden knowledge" that has gained an incredible foothold in recent years, is a dangerous commodity. It is a reinforced fantasy, often based on bad science and research that starts with a preconceived notion, instead of looking at the evidence purely and then making a decision. For instance, the idea that vaccines cause autism in children. At a small level, it is seen as the medical "establishment" making kids sick to make money off of vaccines. There are "unnatural" ingredients in vaccines that make people sick and the medical "establishment" knows about. They ship those vaccines all over the world and make huge profits. To get really out there, this is all a way for the New World Order to reduce the human population so it's easier to control. Unfortunately, this is no where near true. Vaccines account for roughly %10 of the money made off of medicine. This is because of the relatively low shelf and use life of vaccines. Prescriptions are much more lucrative and burgeoning business. Also, population growth and more inclusive diagnosis of autism are much better correlations than vaccines.
This isn't just an anti-intellectual bias though. It is also a lack of filtering. When new information is presented, we as humans need to ask some serious questions. Where did this come from? What are the biases present in this information? What are my own biases? Is this a reliable source of information? Is it verifiable by multiple sources? These are all questions that intellectuals and academics are taught to ask and years ago when all research was done at libraries, it was much easier to ask these questions. Ideas were not generally published unless they went through this process and if they were, they were always highly suspect.
The need to find fault with the establishment is a long held view in America, going back to the founding of the nation. Consequently, life can be hard and a distant "other" to blame for life's problems is easy to find. Academics and intellectuals, of which I will lump doctors, psychologists and the like in, have spent many years of their lives studying these topics and will continue to do so. They have wrestled with their chosen fields in ways that the rest of us just cannot, given time and access to resources. They should be given more credit than they are, trusted more than they are. However, the internet is quickly devolving into a place for paranoia, and is becoming one of the most dangerous places for knowledge, even as it seems to be knowledge's greatest benefactor.
P.S. I apologize for any sort of broad generalizations that may tick some of you off. In attempting to figure out how to relate this idea, I need to engage with generalities. Peace.
-Dan
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Knowledge is a dangerous commodity.
If you are like me, you probably heard a slogan similar to this as a kid; "knowledge is power." If you are like me, you took to this philosophy like a fish to water (to use a trite metaphor). However, I wonder at the validity of that statement these days. Knowledge, as we understand it, naturally proceeds from several different places. Firstly, it comes from reading, which is my preferred method for gaining knowledge. Secondly, it comes from personal experience, which is something all humans share in common. Thirdly, it can come from experimentation. By that I mean the process of attempting something time and time again and getting a similar result. As children, we do this often. Think of a child who wants to test the limits of their parents authority. They might try putting a toy in a shopping cart at the store. When the parent says no and puts it back, the child will undoubtedly try again. After a couple of times of this, the child is reprimanded and will most likely not try it again. That is a very crude example of the third type of knowledge and is very closely tied to personal experience, but it works in a practical way. Unlike most scientific processes, everyone does something like the toy in the shopping cart at some point in their life.
How does this all relate to the aspect of "knowledge is power?" Let's go back to the child and the toy; does that child have any more power than before? Sure, that child has greater insight into their parents, and ultimately will not try such an act again, but the child's view of their parents' authority is much larger now. There are consequences for going against that authority. In this respect, the child seems to have less "power" than before. Certainly, the child has the "power" of the knowledge to know not to try putting that toy in the cart again, but this power is limited. When it all comes to a head, the parents win in the "power struggle."
It happens similarly with books and life experiences. Often, the more we read and the more we experience, the smaller we feel in conjunction with the "world." Society, culture and nature seem to exert their force over us and we can't do much about it. Knowledge in this sense is debilitating. It robs us of the ability to look at the world and say, "that is mine! I can make it how I want it!" For many, this blogger included, this loss of a sense that we can really change anything in the grand scope of life, is depressive. What happens when you give to the poor in charity, then read the shocking statics of the U.S.'s ailing economy? Or the severe plight of the starving in Africa? It can be a most unsettling notion to find that your $30 a month does little to change. "Power," at least in this sense, is gone.
I don't want to leave on a depressing note, because, I don't believe this to be a depressing reality. Certainly, it can be depressive and it can be debilitating, but it does not have to be. When I look at the increase in knowledge I see it two fold; there is the harsh reality of life and then there is the reaction to it. As human beings, we can chose to either take this new found knowledge as a debilitating force, or as a rallying cry. While what we do may not "change the world" it can certainly influence a positive direction in some form. That $30 a month may not end poverty, but it may feed a family for a month. A family that now has one more month added to their life.
Knowledge is a dangerous commodity. While it can expose the harshness of the world and life, it can empower us, with a certain reaction, to be more motivated to do what we can. This issue of where knowledge takes us is far more complicated than I can get with one blog post, and there are many more types of knowledge and situations that aren't so, "big" as the one described above. I do think that a correct view to how we take in new knowledge and new information goes a long way towards informing our world view. I chose, in the face of all the harsh realities, to take the positive view. It's a harder road, but it's ultimately more worth it.
-Dan
How does this all relate to the aspect of "knowledge is power?" Let's go back to the child and the toy; does that child have any more power than before? Sure, that child has greater insight into their parents, and ultimately will not try such an act again, but the child's view of their parents' authority is much larger now. There are consequences for going against that authority. In this respect, the child seems to have less "power" than before. Certainly, the child has the "power" of the knowledge to know not to try putting that toy in the cart again, but this power is limited. When it all comes to a head, the parents win in the "power struggle."
It happens similarly with books and life experiences. Often, the more we read and the more we experience, the smaller we feel in conjunction with the "world." Society, culture and nature seem to exert their force over us and we can't do much about it. Knowledge in this sense is debilitating. It robs us of the ability to look at the world and say, "that is mine! I can make it how I want it!" For many, this blogger included, this loss of a sense that we can really change anything in the grand scope of life, is depressive. What happens when you give to the poor in charity, then read the shocking statics of the U.S.'s ailing economy? Or the severe plight of the starving in Africa? It can be a most unsettling notion to find that your $30 a month does little to change. "Power," at least in this sense, is gone.
I don't want to leave on a depressing note, because, I don't believe this to be a depressing reality. Certainly, it can be depressive and it can be debilitating, but it does not have to be. When I look at the increase in knowledge I see it two fold; there is the harsh reality of life and then there is the reaction to it. As human beings, we can chose to either take this new found knowledge as a debilitating force, or as a rallying cry. While what we do may not "change the world" it can certainly influence a positive direction in some form. That $30 a month may not end poverty, but it may feed a family for a month. A family that now has one more month added to their life.
Knowledge is a dangerous commodity. While it can expose the harshness of the world and life, it can empower us, with a certain reaction, to be more motivated to do what we can. This issue of where knowledge takes us is far more complicated than I can get with one blog post, and there are many more types of knowledge and situations that aren't so, "big" as the one described above. I do think that a correct view to how we take in new knowledge and new information goes a long way towards informing our world view. I chose, in the face of all the harsh realities, to take the positive view. It's a harder road, but it's ultimately more worth it.
-Dan
Saturday, September 4, 2010
On poetry; Yusef Komunyakaa
I'd like to inaugurate my blog by discussing a poem. I'm not going into a very detailed discussion, but I do have a few things to say. The following poem is from one of my favorite poets, Yusef Komunyakaa. To say that I have a fascination with him is, an understatement. Since hearing him speak and lead a class discussion at my undergraduate university, my view on poetry has shifted. He effortlessly melds the written style of poetry with the musical qualities of jazz and when spoken it brings you into a different world. So, below is one of his poems, Believing in Iron. You can go to this link and listen to it as well. Leave some thoughts if you have any!
---
The hills my brothers & I created
never balanced, & it took years
To discover how the world worked.
We could look at a tree of blackbirds
& tell you how many were there,
But with the scrap dealer
Our math was always off.
Weeks of lifting & grunting
Never added up to much,
But we couldn't stop
Believing in iron.
Abandoned trucks & cars
Were held to the ground
By thick, nostalgic fingers of vines
Strong as a dozen sharecroppers.
We'd return with our wheelbarrow
Groaning under a new load,
Yet tiger lilies lived better
In their languid, August domain.
Among paper & Coke bottles
Foundry smoke erased sunsets,
& we couldn't believe iron
Left men bent so close to the earth
As if the ore under their breath
Weighed down the gray sky.
Sometimes I dreamt how our hills
Washed into a sea of metal,
How it all became an anchor
For a warship or bomber
Out over trees with blooms
Too red to look at.
-Dan
---
The hills my brothers & I created
never balanced, & it took years
To discover how the world worked.
We could look at a tree of blackbirds
& tell you how many were there,
But with the scrap dealer
Our math was always off.
Weeks of lifting & grunting
Never added up to much,
But we couldn't stop
Believing in iron.
Abandoned trucks & cars
Were held to the ground
By thick, nostalgic fingers of vines
Strong as a dozen sharecroppers.
We'd return with our wheelbarrow
Groaning under a new load,
Yet tiger lilies lived better
In their languid, August domain.
Among paper & Coke bottles
Foundry smoke erased sunsets,
& we couldn't believe iron
Left men bent so close to the earth
As if the ore under their breath
Weighed down the gray sky.
Sometimes I dreamt how our hills
Washed into a sea of metal,
How it all became an anchor
For a warship or bomber
Out over trees with blooms
Too red to look at.
-Dan
Thursday, September 2, 2010
We're going down to the City of Bones.
Greetings,
My name is Dan and I am a blogger. Sort of. Actually, I am a graduate student. No wait, actually, I am a soon to be husband. I suppose mentioning that I play(ed) metal and write poetry may be of interest to many of you, but it also may not be of interest to any of you. So, let me try this again...
... as you can see I couldn't think of anything better to say to introduce myself. When it comes to who I am, those are simply signifiers indicating some outward thing that is supposed to be a commentary on my inward self. They are not though, and they are all in the same. Really, I am simply a human being, living, breathing, etc. Even this won't quite do.
So once again, I will try this introduction thing. My name is Dan and I am here to write this blog. There, I am satisfied with that! That seems to describe myself pretty easily, at least as much as this blog demands. Abstract introductions aside, what is my purpose for blogging? This is something that I have thought long and hard about and I've come to a simple conclusion; I enjoy writing and talking about ideas. I enjoy talking about life. Knowing as much as you do now, that is what I plan to do with this blog; to discuss ideas and life with whoever wants to listen and engage in that conversation.
I used to have a blog where I talked about some more, dare we say, theological topics. Honestly, I kind of got tired of it. It wasn't really doing it for me anymore and I felt really constricted by my previous content. I tried several times to re-energize the blog, but it just never happened. So, I have buried the blog in the grave of the internet, right next to my first failed blog attempt and my failed internet site. Perhaps I should give up this internet thing, huh? If any one is interested in reading it, it's still up and you can find it under my profile, but it won't be there for long.
What I can guarantee you as far as topics go are the following; ideas about faith, ideas about literature, ideas about life and maybe some commentary on social issues. Ultimately, this is a realm of ideas and conversation and through that I hope for it to a vessel for others to think about such things.
If any of you are wondering about the title of the blog, well, keep wondering. It isn't as morbid as you may think, but then again maybe it is. Strong images and words resonate with us, and hopefully, if I am lucky enough, something I say will be strong enough to resonate with you. Welcome to the City of Bones... I hope you enjoy your stay!
-Dan
My name is Dan and I am a blogger. Sort of. Actually, I am a graduate student. No wait, actually, I am a soon to be husband. I suppose mentioning that I play(ed) metal and write poetry may be of interest to many of you, but it also may not be of interest to any of you. So, let me try this again...
... as you can see I couldn't think of anything better to say to introduce myself. When it comes to who I am, those are simply signifiers indicating some outward thing that is supposed to be a commentary on my inward self. They are not though, and they are all in the same. Really, I am simply a human being, living, breathing, etc. Even this won't quite do.
So once again, I will try this introduction thing. My name is Dan and I am here to write this blog. There, I am satisfied with that! That seems to describe myself pretty easily, at least as much as this blog demands. Abstract introductions aside, what is my purpose for blogging? This is something that I have thought long and hard about and I've come to a simple conclusion; I enjoy writing and talking about ideas. I enjoy talking about life. Knowing as much as you do now, that is what I plan to do with this blog; to discuss ideas and life with whoever wants to listen and engage in that conversation.
I used to have a blog where I talked about some more, dare we say, theological topics. Honestly, I kind of got tired of it. It wasn't really doing it for me anymore and I felt really constricted by my previous content. I tried several times to re-energize the blog, but it just never happened. So, I have buried the blog in the grave of the internet, right next to my first failed blog attempt and my failed internet site. Perhaps I should give up this internet thing, huh? If any one is interested in reading it, it's still up and you can find it under my profile, but it won't be there for long.
What I can guarantee you as far as topics go are the following; ideas about faith, ideas about literature, ideas about life and maybe some commentary on social issues. Ultimately, this is a realm of ideas and conversation and through that I hope for it to a vessel for others to think about such things.
If any of you are wondering about the title of the blog, well, keep wondering. It isn't as morbid as you may think, but then again maybe it is. Strong images and words resonate with us, and hopefully, if I am lucky enough, something I say will be strong enough to resonate with you. Welcome to the City of Bones... I hope you enjoy your stay!
-Dan
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