Do You Have a Right to be Willfully Ignorant?

[Revoltingest]

If you are ignorant, then how would you know any better ?.

If one follow's Dirty Harry's advice (A man's got to know his limitations.),
then one is aware of one's limits of knowledge.
Of course, Harry meant to include women, but the need for brevity prevailed.

 

[Meander_Z]

That is by far the best rant I ever read.

But.... I am of a different point of view. I thought the thread was about the promotion of ignorance. Surely you do not think that ignorance should be endorsed. Do you?

I think my endorsement of ignorance was pretty clear in my rant. I endorse specific forms of ignorance, ignorance that is wisdom in disguise, ignorance as a celebration of humor, intuition, creativity, body-knowledge, non-invasive observation, story-telling, paradox, profanity... pretty much anything that challenges the idea that all true knowledge must be factual, provable, and in agreement with intellectual tradition and academic authorities.

Analogy: Ignorance is to Academia as Heresy is to The Church.

Me: An Ignorant Heretic.

Question: What is the difference between ignorance and wisdom? Could you really tell them apart if you ran into them in a dark alley?

 

[savagewind]

I think my endorsement of ignorance was pretty clear in my rant. I endorse specific forms of ignorance, ignorance that is wisdom in disguise, ignorance as a celebration of humor, intuition, creativity, body-knowledge, non-invasive observation, story-telling, paradox, profanity... pretty much anything that challenges the idea that all true knowledge must be factual, provable, and in agreement with intellectual tradition and academic authorities.

Analogy: Ignorance is to Academia as Heresy is to The Church.

Me: An Ignorant Heretic.

Wisdom in disguise is not ignorance. Humor is not ignorance. Intuition is not ignorance. Body knowledge? Story telling is not ignorance. I am ignorant about non-invasive observation. Profanity might be ignorance of right words with self control.

I think that to promote ignorance is liken to making people blind.

Question: What is the difference between ignorance and wisdom? Could you really tell them apart if you ran into them in a dark alley?

I think this is a good question. I shall sleep on it.

I shall go with this definition of ignorant: a lack of awareness.

I also have an analogy. A magic show is for focusing people's attention on the magic and wondering how it is accomplished. While people's minds are on the show someone in the audience is picking pockets. The one picking pockets is for the promotion of ignorance. The magic is for making people unaware.

 

[savagewind]

“A university degree may or may not improve your employment prospects. But one fact is indisputable: “The time left is reduced”! (1 Corinthians 7:29) For all its presumed benefits, would four years or more in a university be the best use of that remaining time?-Ephesians 5:16.”
~ May 8, 1989, Awake
“Remember, too, that “the time left is reduced.” (1 Corinthians 7:29) How much time will you devote to such education? Will it consume the bulk of your youthful years? If so, how will you apply the Bible’s encouragement to “remember, now, your Grand Creator in the days of your young manhood”? (Ecclesiastes 12:1) Further, will the courses you take allow time for such vital Christian activities as meeting attendance, field service, and personal study? (Matthew 24:14; Hebrews 10:24, 25)”
~ September 1, 1999, Watchtower

 

[Walter Russell]

In a representative democracy, where your decisions on may broadly impact others, do you have a right to be willfully ignorant?

For example: Do you have a right to be willfully ignorant of evolution when voting for a school board member who opposes the teaching of evolution in the public schools?

Again, do you have a right to be willfully ignorant of vaccines when deciding whether to have your child vaccinated?

Again, do you have a right to be willfully ignorant of the structural basis for racism when voting for a politician who favors ending affirmative action?

I believe everyone has right to be ignorant in reguards to all the above but a responsibility not to be.

An equal problem to being ignorant is the accusation of being ignorant when your not, simply because you hold a different view.

 

[savagewind]

Question: What is the difference between ignorance and wisdom? Could you really tell them apart if you ran into them in a dark alley?

Wisdom: the quality of having good judgement.

Ignorance: the lack of knowledge

I understand ignorance is more than that. It comes from the word ignore which means to refrain from noticing.

So, if I met wisdom in a dark alley he would speak and probably say, "are you looking for something?".

Ignorance would not notice that I was there and so I might think he is up to no good because I would not know that he was just being stupid. If I had a weapon, I might get ready to use it.

Wisdom would be friendly to ease any fear. It might acknowledge my presence. Wisdom would not worry me, unless I was paranoid. I try not to be.

Ignorance would make me afraid. It might run to me or away from me and so making me worried.

 

[savagewind]

I believe everyone has right to be ignorant in reguards to all the above but a responsibility not to be.

An equal problem to being ignorant is the accusation of being ignorant when your not, simply because you hold a different view.

I think there is a big difference between not knowing something and not noticing something.

To not know something is everyone's right. There are many things a person should not know imo......like how to make good pornography or how to smuggle drugs and people across borders.

But, people choose to not notice things and I think that is BAD.

To refrain is an action verb. To not know something requires no action.

 

[Walter Russell]

I think there is a big difference between not knowing something and not noticing something.

To not know something is everyone's right. There are many things a person should not know imo......like how to make good pornography or how to smuggle drugs and people across borders.

But, people choose to not notice things and I think that is BAD.

To refrain is an action verb. To not know something requires no action.

I don't see a disagreement here.

I have an aunt that will run for the hills if someone brings up a topic that isn't sunshiny and rosy.
She lives With a false sense of reality and refuses to hear anything negative. It honestly drives me nuts.
You can't fix problems you refuse to admit exist.

 

[savagewind]

I don't see a disagreement here.

I have an aunt that will run for the hills if someone brings up a topic that isn't sunshiny and rosy.
She lives With a false sense of reality and refuses to hear anything negative. It honestly drives me nuts.
You can't fix problems you refuse to admit exist.

I agree! Also, if you believe a false reality you will be heading in the wrong direction.

I was looking for a Plato quote I heard yesterday but it isn't a popular one so now I can't find it.
It is something about how people will make their imagination their reality.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

Most western countries have compulsory education and an official curriculum.
I can not think of another country other than the USA, where the syllabus can still be faith driven.

There are still people in the UK who are proud of their ignorance. and look down on learning.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

..., do you have a right to be willfully ignorant?

Having reread the forum rules ...