Is knowledge a curse? · Philosophy Forum

Mindship Snap out of it.

Knowledge is power. Shortsightedness is the curse.

alltoomany Senior Member

some powers SOME rather not have

Storm Black belt BJJ

Knowledge is much like fire. Used properly, it can be a valuable tool. Used carelessly, fire can destroy lives, towns and forests in an instant.

Knowledge has dangers and an ugly dark side. But it can also bring tremendous opportunities and benefits.

Astner The Ghost Who Walks

Re: Is knowledge a curse?

Originally posted by Rapidash
The less you know, the happier you are.

I disagree.

Ascendancy Senior Member

Originally posted by Storm
Knowledge is much like fire. Used properly, it can be a valuable tool. Used carelessly, fire can destroy lives, towns and forests in an instant.
Knowledge has dangers and an ugly dark side. But it can also bring tremendous opportunities and benefits.

Pretty well said here. The biggest dangers of knowledge are that we may think we have a greater understanding than we do and cause harm through ignorance or simply use it for wrong. I think most who seek knowledge do so for positive reasons and as much as lies with them work to bring good from what they learn. I see nothing wrong with being reminded from time to time that we know nothing.

Symmetric Chaos Fractal King

Re: Re: Is knowledge a curse?

Originally posted by Astner
I disagree.

But I bet you would have been happier if you didn't know he believed that 313

Robtard Senor Member

Originally posted by Storm
Knowledge is much like fire. Used properly, it can be a valuable tool. Used carelessly, fire can destroy lives, towns and forests in an instant.
Knowledge has dangers and an ugly dark side. But it can also bring tremendous opportunities and benefits.

So you're telling us that knowledge can roast a marshmallow.

Lord Lucien Lets all love Lain

Originally posted by Storm
Knowledge is much like fire. Used properly, it can be a valuable tool. Used carelessly, fire can destroy lives, towns and forests in an instant.
Knowledge has dangers and an ugly dark side. But it can also bring tremendous opportunities and benefits.

Knowledge sounds more like nuclear physics than fire. Nuclear knowledge can start fires and irradiate the world! Double whammy.

Astner The Ghost Who Walks

Originally posted by Symmetric Chaos
But I bet you would have been happier if you didn't know he believed that 313

No. I was referring to relevant knowledge. Knowing that the price of a can of coke has changed is not going to make me feel better or worse just for the sake of the change. I might get happy because it has dropped in price, or pissed because it has raised in price. But that's in awareness of my financial situation, and not for the knowledge itself.

Originally posted by Lord Lucien
Knowledge sounds more like nuclear physics than fire. Nuclear knowledge can start fires and irradiate the world! Double whammy.

You need more resources than just knowledge to utilize nuclear fission as a power source. That said, it was an anecdote.

Symmetric Chaos Fractal King

Originally posted by Astner
No. I was referring to relevant knowledge. Knowing that the price of a can of coke has changed is not going to make me feel better or worse just for the sake of the change. I might get happy because it has dropped in price, or pissed because it has raised in price. But that's in awareness of my financial situation, and not for the knowledge itself.

That seems like no-true-scotsman to me. What is the difference between knowledge and "relevant" knowledge?

Astner The Ghost Who Walks

Originally posted by Symmetric Chaos
That seems like no-true-scotsman to me.

Then you don't know what a fallacy is. As I'm expressing my opinion on the matter, not making any attempts of approaching the matter objectively.

Originally posted by Symmetric Chaos
What is the difference between knowledge and "relevant" knowledge?

Knowledge I personally feel matters.

Lord Lucien Lets all love Lain

Originally posted by Astner
You need more resources than just knowledge to utilize nuclear fission as a power source. That said, it was an anecdote.

Swing and a miss. I think it's a problem of sociolinguistics at this point.

rudester Tommy

Re: Is knowledge a curse?

Originally posted by Rapidash
The less you know, the happier you are. Is it possible to consider knowledge a curse?

a long long time ago I hacked myself into my ex email account and found out things I didnt want too, yes it is. I never did it again.

Astner The Ghost Who Walks

Originally posted by Lord Lucien
Swing and a miss. I think it's a problem of sociolinguistics at this point.

Mind pointing out the problem? Or are you just stroking your ego?

Originally posted by rudester
a long long time ago I hacked myself into my ex email account and found out things I didnt want too, yes it is. I never did it again.

So you'd rather live in ignorance of your ex-girlfriend's actions, allowing her to get away with what she did? Don't you have any self-respect?

Lord Lucien Lets all love Lain

You gotta get that sand out of your vagina, it's making you cranky.

Astner The Ghost Who Walks

I thought as much. Concession accepted.

Lord Lucien Lets all love Lain

Concessions don't de-sand vaginas. And if they did, I'm sure they'd charge $10 too much.

Symmetric Chaos Fractal King

Originally posted by Astner
Knowledge I personally feel matters.

So you've arbitrarily drawn a line so that you don't even have to think about the issue. Cool, conversation over.

Astner The Ghost Who Walks

Originally posted by Symmetric Chaos
So you've arbitrarily drawn a line so that you don't even have to think about the issue.

Yes it's called an opinion, and so I have no obligations to come up with a systematic model to generally distinguish what's considered relevant and what isn't.

Robtard Senor Member

Originally posted by Astner
So you'd rather live in ignorance of your ex-girlfriend's actions, allowing her to get away with what she did? Don't you have any self-respect?

Knew it. Not mocking you, but I knew it was you all along in that story.