My father raised me with the saying: “A little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing.” I figured it was just a tool my father used to get me to do my homework and learn. As a mature adult, I see its message is far greater…and can lead to building ignorance.
Education and learning are the foundation, but ignorance is a much larger building than just learning facts. It incorporates schooling, society, community, family, religion, politics, environment, economics, geography, human behavior, experiences and more, all of which are ‘supplements’ to becoming law-abiding, compassionate, respectful, forgiving, and learned individuals. These ‘supplements’ must be taught, practiced, and modeled. Just like reading is a learned skill, so is ‘knowledge.’
I was intrigued by the word ‘ignorance’ and consulted Webster. The definition of ignorance is knowledge, information, and understanding. Did you know there are three different kinds of ‘ignorance?’ Me too, I had no idea. I thought there was only one kind of ignorance…knowledge gained from books and experience. “There is factual ignorance (absence of knowledge of some fact), object ignorance (unacquaintance with some object), and technical ignorance (absence of knowledge of how to do something).” Obviously, our world society is lacking in knowledge on all three! But how do we overcome this ignorance?
“Simply defined, we must cultivate curiosity and a growth mindset by being open to different perspectives and challenging our own preconceived notions. We must practice empathy and mindfulness to understand others better and gain self-awareness which can help you recognize your own lack of understanding.” You cannot gain such awareness if everything in your life revolves around just you! Self-centeredness cannot help with cultivating curiosity, seeking diverse perspectives, being more aware of your thoughts and feelings, learning new things by reading books and reputable websites, asking questions to clarify your understanding, being a lifelong learner.”
If you are good at teaching yourself, it is great! But many need to be supplemented by others. SUPPLEMENTS ARE ESSENTIAL AND DESIGNED TO BE ‘IN ADDITION TO’ AND NOT A ‘REPLACEMENT FOR.’ At the center of this supplementation are parents and families. The supplements discussed in reference to knowledge vs. ignorance must be modeled and practiced and administered first in the home. Supporting supplements come from learning in school and other teachings. I guess the point I am trying to make is that ignorance is due to a lack of teaching.
Just like becoming a proficient reader, we must be taught the necessary skills and the skills to overcome ignorance are not something we are born with. We overcome ignorance through teaching (of which reading proficiency is the foundation), knowledge, and understanding. This mindset begins at birth! Discussion and free speech are at the center of overcoming ignorance. How can an individual grow and learn if they are afraid to ask questions, go to school, or walk in their communities, or worship their faith. We all share this right. NOW PRACTICE IT!