Human beings. We’re complex. We know this. Our brains are truly incredible. They’re the most complex structures in the known universe. There are few things that intrigue me more than the depth of the mind. Despite the vast, intricate and paradoxical nature of thinking, I wonder if there are things humans are incapable of comprehending?
I once read a book that really struck a chord with me, The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark by the late astrophysicist, Carl Sagan. Sagan emphasizes the differences between “science” and “pseudoscience” but asks readers to take it a step further…. Are they one in the same? The narrative places a strong emphasis on the importance of skepticism, rationalism and logic, yet undermines their validity in the grand scheme of things.
Science is a process toward truth, a truth which has yet to be obtained. The emphasis is placed on questions that can be disproved, NOT necessarily on the proven. This leads me to think, can we really prove anything? Or are our thought systems and knowledge ultimately rooted in belief? What are these beliefs based on? What role does our stage, or level, of consciousness play in shaping these ideologies?
We are all ignorant to some degree. Truly, only a fool thinks they know “everything”.
We live in an era where celebrities, drama, materialism, violence and hedonism are glorified. We are bombarded with fallacies, greed, selfishness, negativity, subliminal messaging and toxicity on a daily basis. Many of us are so out of sync with reality.
So, should ignorance be demonized or celebrated?
Overall, do we live in a credulous society where the majority is incapable of critical thought? Why is this so?
Well, Sagan believes it is due to a lack of skepticism and methodical thinking. Who has the time to *gasp* weigh out the possibilities and thinking for themselves? Not those looking for ~validity~, or the “answer”, or the quick fix. In a society that breeds mediocrity, it requires less effort to blindly believe what we’re told to be true. In Sagan’s work, he places emphasis on popular pseudo-sciences and government, primarily.Is having faith in the unknown a show of bravery of laziness?
I’ve learned over the years that you cannot help anyone who does not want to help themselves. But how can one help himself/herself if the issues are out of conscious awareness?
This is why
knowledge is celebrated and regarded as truth.
We need it, because it’s apparent, proven and helps us to discover/solve problems. Oddly enough, not everyone wants it. Knowledge, or truth, may sometimes feel like a huge blow to the stomach and change our minds, even our lives, completely.Yet, knowledge itself is forever evolving (this is why Sagan believes science and pseudo-science are one in the same, facts change over time).
He claims science is a tool to “shed light on ignorance (the dark)”, which I totally agree. But at the same time, not all ignorance is “dark” or negative.
In a sense the saying is true, “ignorance is bliss” – to a degree and based on perspective.
Whether ignorance is bliss or not, we can never answer the question empirically.Even rationalism, logic and science cannot prove this as it’s SUBJECTIVE! Rooted in BELIEF!
The point I’m trying to make is WE KNOW NOTHING WITH CERTAINTY and that’s the beauty of life. Some things can’t be disputed, but we can acknowledge them for what they are and keep an open mind.
