The Illusion of Knowledge and Its Impact on Personal Freedom
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The Illusion of Knowledge and Its Impact on Personal Freedom
(Location 384 - Kindle Version)"What limits your freedom is what you think you know that isn’t true.” – Tony J. Selimi
Our perception of reality is often shaped by the knowledge we believe we possess. However, when our understanding is based on misconceptions or false information, it can limit our personal freedom and growth.
In my perspective, the illusion of knowledge significantly limits our personal freedom by preventing us from seeing alternative viewpoints and opportunities for growth. By cultivating a mindset that values curiosity, humility, and skepticism, we can recognize and overcome these barriers to our understanding. Through critical thinking and a willingness to challenge our beliefs, we can foster an environment where personal freedom flourishes.
Do you agree with the idea that the illusion of knowledge limits personal freedom and that fostering a mindset of curiosity and critical thinking can help overcome these barriers? How do you think this approach would impact your own life and understanding?
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By embracing a mindset of curiosity and critical thinking, individuals are more likely to question their assumptions, seek out new information, and consider diverse perspectives. This approach can enhance their understanding of the world and lead to more nuanced insights, enabling them to make better-informed choices and engage more meaningfully with others.
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Take, for instance, a surgeon who smokes cigarettes. This surgeon went to medical school, and was certainly taught about the dangers of tobacco products as well as the illnesses that may befall those who partake of them. The knowledge is sound. Yet, the surgeon still smokes cigarettes. Why? He/she thinks that those illnesses will never happen to them or perhaps that they'll be able to contend with the illness if it were to occur. What this person thinks to be true is illusory. In fact, it's perception that is limiting. What is the case and what someone thinks to be the case can often be very different.
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I really liked your take on this question, especially that it is perception that is limiting. I think you're completely right that we may have knowledge and yet choose not to implement it in our lives. We may know that diet and exercise are critical to our health and well-being, but that doesn't mean we all immediately adjust our lifestyle to apply that knowledge to our life. Or as you mentioned with cognitive dissonance, we may choose (consciously or subconsciously) to ignore new knowledge because it conflicts with our existing knowledge or would require effort and input from us that we are unwilling to give.Jessica Cole 3 wrote: ↑05 Jul 2023, 20:35 It's hard to disagree, since we're all shaped by knowledge and our surroundings. However, I'll try my hand at disagreeing a little bit. I don't think it's an illusion of knowledge at play here, but an illusion of truth. I only know what I know, and don't know what I was never taught or experienced first-hand. Knowledge is about fact, so knowledge can't be an illusion. The illusion is what I think to be true. That's why cognitive dissonance is such a big deal in society.
Take, for instance, a surgeon who smokes cigarettes. This surgeon went to medical school, and was certainly taught about the dangers of tobacco products as well as the illnesses that may befall those who partake of them. The knowledge is sound. Yet, the surgeon still smokes cigarettes. Why? He/she thinks that those illnesses will never happen to them or perhaps that they'll be able to contend with the illness if it were to occur. What this person thinks to be true is illusory. In fact, it's perception that is limiting. What is the case and what someone thinks to be the case can often be very different.
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The willingness to challenge our own beliefs is a key part of personal growth and development. By being open to the possibility that we may be wrong, we can gain a more complete understanding of the world around us.
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However, for other individuals, learning is an ongoing process, and they are naturally open-minded and curious about learning new things.
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I can totally see your point, as when the knowledge is more direct, the problem isn't in its cogency, but in the use one make of it. Especially for a case such as in the example you gave, I think it's an issue of one convincing oneself of a truth, against a more rational judgment, so it can validate an unreasonable behavior.Jessica Cole 3 wrote: ↑05 Jul 2023, 20:35 It's hard to disagree, since we're all shaped by knowledge and our surroundings. However, I'll try my hand at disagreeing a little bit. I don't think it's an illusion of knowledge at play here, but an illusion of truth. I only know what I know, and don't know what I was never taught or experienced first-hand. Knowledge is about fact, so knowledge can't be an illusion. The illusion is what I think to be true. That's why cognitive dissonance is such a big deal in society.
Take, for instance, a surgeon who smokes cigarettes. This surgeon went to medical school, and was certainly taught about the dangers of tobacco products as well as the illnesses that may befall those who partake of them. The knowledge is sound. Yet, the surgeon still smokes cigarettes. Why? He/she thinks that those illnesses will never happen to them or perhaps that they'll be able to contend with the illness if it were to occur. What this person thinks to be true is illusory. In fact, it's perception that is limiting. What is the case and what someone thinks to be the case can often be very different.
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This thread offered some very interesting food for thought about the variations and ramifications of the illusion of knowledge. Cognitive dissonance and complacenty can certainly cause as much problems as the illusion of knowledge, which means that we need to be honest with ourselves and recognize those flaws if we don't want to fall for them.
Massimo