Monday, September 17, 2007

Shadow Knowledge

We sometimes think that learning knowledge is enough. Yes knowledge gives us information about things, events, human emotions, and so on that give us a false sense of wisdom.

Wisdom comes from doing and living through the results of our actions and learning from it. Then we truly know. Everything else is but a shadow of the real thing. Nothing wrong with that as anyone who has been burnt by a match or by a stove burner will know that leaping into a fire will hurt big time. We just need to be careful.

Shadow knowledge allows us to make assumptions only and recognize that they are no substitute for the real thing. Take advice with a large shaker of salt unless someone speaks from experience. Similarly we should be careful in giving advice when it contains only abstract knowledge rather than wisdom learnt through experience.

We simply need to recognize when we have shadow knowledge versus real knowledge and act accordingly.

Your thoughts?

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2 conversations:

Sandee said...

I hadn't heard of this before. very interesting though. It also makes sense. Most of us hear someone speaking about something that they know nothing about and doing it with such authority. What surprises me is each of us really know so little about the world around us. Another thought provoking post Peter. Have a great evening. :)

Peter Haslam said...

Just a different way at looking at knowledge and when not to use it Sandee