Knowledge: a blessing or a curse?

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BY ANGELICA LOUISE PFLEIDER
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Thursday, March 8, 2018
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THE POSSESSION of knowledge is one trait that separates humans from other creatures.

Humans have the ability to learn information and skills outside of those needed for survival.

Humans take pride with the fact that they can expand their mental capacity. They choose their leaders and their role models.

There is a price that comes with possessing knowledge though. It gives you a sense of empowerment that can sometimes lead to the abuse of power of those who feel they are more intelligent than their peers.

This can be seen in George Orwell’s “Animal Farm.” The animals, sick of the oppression brought on to them by humans, had a rebellion and kicked them out.

When the humans were gone the animals took over operation of the farm and they chose the pigs, the most intelligent among them, as their leaders.

Things were happy in the beginning, but when the pigs started learning about human ways and practicing their habits, they turned into even worse oppressors than the humans. They treated their less-educated animal brothers like trash.

Not only can you see this is in works of fiction but even in real life. Knowledge, though advertised as an opportunity, can sometimes be a barrier among the people. When choosing applicants for new jobs people prioritize graduates from well-known schools and who have several degrees, leaving the others to settle for jobs where they are overqualified and paid minimum wage.

In a biblical sense, Adam and Eve were punished and banished from Eden after they ate the fruit from the tree of knowledge. They corrupted their innocent and pure selves.

There are several other stories similar to this like Pandora’s box where people, driven by curiosity and temptation, end up bringing calamity upon themselves and their fellowmen.

But what can humanity do? Man is naturally curious and seeks to learn new things. We will continue learn especially with the new advances in science and we will never be contented with the knowledge we possess.

All throughout history man has torn each other apart either because of the possession of knowledge or the want of knowledge and we will continue to do so until we are wiped out from the face of the Earth. (angelica.panaynews@gmail.com/PN)

 
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