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Knowledge versus Wisdom/Fact versus Value
Posted On 11/17/2008 19:42:58 by Bodhi


We live in times where knowledge is overflowing and yet wisdom has become scarce. From the moment we go to school we are bombarded with so much knowledge about the world and we grow up feeling powerful and in control because of our knowledge. Formal education produce graduates in every field and experts in many aspects of life. We know so much about the world and yet surprisingly we understand so little about life. Wisdom is being delisted in our vocabulary. Try some words of wisdom with your friends and you will get sneers and giggles. Some would say you are sick or have a fever. For the world has valued only facts but not the value behind the facts. We have learned to appreciate the how to's of everything but detest asking the question why. Yes we can reach the moon but why? Yes we can create nuclear bombs but why? Sam Keen quotes, "Knowledge and fact has overwhelmed us and, in direct proportion, wisdom has disappeared." Thus we grow up lopsided in a lopsided world. Diseased mindscapes creating diseased landscapes. We drown in knowledge and lose sensitivity to the most poignant aspects of being human--to see with the heart and to touch with the soul. So much knowledge has driven our senses unfeeling. Our preoccupation with facts has disregarded our values and left them out in the cold.

Tags: Knowledge Wisdom Fact Value



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Viewing 1 - 1 out of 1 Comments

11/18/2008 10:09:40
Wonderful blog Bodhi :)

Just this morning a friend and I were debating parts of this concept. We had both taken a journey backwards in time into the days of our youth. Together, we represent two different generations of visual mind-images with my friend being about 15-years older than I am.

He was claiming that while he was in grade-school science and math were still being respected as skills needed towards understanding other elements of our lives. Oh, Boy! If homework wasn't done and memorized into the gray-cells bad things would happen.

I countered his memories with my own. My days in grade-school stared with older science and math rules being taught that changed into "new" math rules to make things simpler. During high-school, I was threatened with flunking a calculous test for having a brand new plug-in calculator in my possession under my desk.

About 5-years later, I was in trouble again for not owning a calculator and trying to do math the good ol' fashioned way - same in science... The old ways were no longer wanted; I was expected to tear down everything in my head in order to do things "the easy way" --- that is NOT easy for me.

Next, came the grade-3 arguement with my oldest daughter about the pro's and con's of actually memorizing the times tables that I was determined she'd learn. I didn't care what that Mickey Mouse calculator said - I wanted those times tables in her mind. Mickey wasn't going to live forever!!!

But, alas... That darned Mickey Mouse calculator refused to die. In fact, that 1984 banged - dented- scratched - screen chipped - Mickey is sitting right here beside me ready to spit out answers to the times tables any time that I'd like him to do so.

And, that leads me back to this morning's discussion. Is there REALLY a reason that my mind now refuses to learn new math and science concepts? I'm officially a math and science dummy now, and quite jealous of all those who can easily grasp numbers and element forces like my friend.

Somehow, his older style of education gave him the tools to know exactly what strength of string is needed to hold the stars up over the earth, and how to make licorice tasting "almost gum" from the plants that he see's while we're out walking.

There is a magical element missing in my gray-cells that explains today's world. Everybody seems to have the mechanical answers, but wouldn't know how to string the sun up there so that it stays put if they had to.

Nope. There will never be any sci-fi drawing or writing in my future, even while I'd enjoy making my fantasies into a printed reality. I don't have the math or science skills to make dreams real. And, without sci-fi dreams allowed in our knowledge today, our planet is wise without wisdom.

Happy Thoughts Bodhi :) Catherine



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