Knowledge is not power

[AHiddenSaint]

Anyone can gain knowledge, but very few can gain wisedom. Without wisedom one can not apply knowledge therefore knowledge must not be power if one is not wise enough to use that power.

[Ynot]

lol @ wisedom kind of goes against your claim, really Knowledge is an understanding of how things are Wisdom is an understanding of why things are

[Howie]

Originally posted by AHiddenSaint Anyone can gain knowledge, but very few can gain wisedom. Without wisedom one can not apply knowledge therefore knowledge must not be power if one is not wise enough to use that power. You are right. I agree but it really comes down to who is the one who cares. If you are talking about the average population if you have knowledge which is memory this is constituted as being smart. If you have to back up your boast at times, trivial knowledge may mean nothing. That is where the wisdom comes into place. Or better yet the ability to understand your knowledge. But all in all it comes down to memory. I have been envious many times for someone that can remember a chess move after one time off using it where as I gained my understanding of how and why that move works through repetition and mistakes. I did not have the same memory capabilities as my opponent yet he still one. I new the deeper seeded fundamentals of that move. But where did it get me? So would you chose understanding or memory?

[Gwendolyn]

Wisdom is being able to interpret the knowledge (input) you recieve in a way that applies to you....

[AirRick101]

I agree that memory is vastly underestimated. It's often viewed as a cold aspect of merely a good intellect. But a good memory, whether it be mental, physiological, or spiritual, is the only way to have a foundation of knowledge or wisdom at all. I find wisdom to come exclusively from experience. Knowledge is the premature form of that wisdom. Wisdom, of course, tends to have a more positive connotation that knowledge, this is something that we gotta watch out for. But for terms of knowledge, if you knew absolutely everything, and could know everything when you wanted to, how can you not be wise about every single decision u make?

[Howie]

Originally posted by AirRick101 I agree that memory is vastly underestimated. It's often viewed as a cold aspect of merely a good intellect. But a good memory, whether it be mental, physiological, or spiritual, is the only way to have a foundation of knowledge or wisdom at all. I find wisdom to come exclusively from experience. Knowledge is the premature form of that wisdom. Wisdom, of course, tends to have a more positive connotation that knowledge, this is something that we gotta watch out for. But for terms of knowledge, if you knew absolutely everything, and could know everything when you wanted to, how can you not be wise about every single decision u make? I see what you are saying. Experience is necessary. But not always does that help. An example is one of my friends can play trivial pursuit with our family and after the night was over the entire family would label him as "smart." But on the other hand when it comes to hands on application he could not change a light bulb. Even though he technically knows how. Similar to a savant. Vast storage of memory. Memorizing dictionaries, phonebooks and things, yet when he had to use the information in context to what it was used for the man or woman may be worthless.

[Neruo]

You could allso say: 'Hey all nurds fail at having sex, I guess they don't have the power'. It is all about the context. The right knowledge is power. Or wisdom. It's just a word. Basical, if you know something other people or only few know, and other people want to know or if you can use that knowledge wisdom in a way that will make you better, That is power.

[Alric]

Of course having both beats either.

[wasup]

I think that people gain wisdom from knowledge. Some people might understand human nature better than others from experience, but when you apply knowledge to your understanding then you are much better off.

[MCB]

Hey, wisdom comes from knowledge. Knowledge is not power, it needs action. Power is to be able or to use your knowledge. Let's say the Know-it-all-old-man-from-the-top-of-the-montain, he could know everything but still would have no power because he would only be able to watch - he would gain wisdom. And the best knowledge you can have is to know that you don't know nothing, that is the only knowledge that will take you to knowledge. (too much 'knowledge's in only one sentence, eh?) Animals don't know that they don't know, that's why they'll never try to gain knowledge or wisdom. But as soons as one finds out that he(she-it-whatever) does not know, he can start to gain knowledge, like us did.

[DuB]

Heh, my first post in the Philosophy forum 8) Originally posted by Howetzer So would you chose understanding or memory? Understanding, for sure. Understanding can substitute for memory, but memory can never substitute for understanding. For example, let's consider two young students. They are both studying their multiplication tables in preparation for a math test. Student A memorizes the entire table given, from "1 x 1 = 1," to "9 x 9 = 81." Student B, on the other hand, learns the underlying principles of multiplication. Now it's test day, and towards the end of the test, the teacher throws a couple curve balls: perhaps "3 x 0 = ___" or "5 x 10 = ___." Student A, having not memorized these problems, is unable to answer, whereas Student B, who understands the process behind multiplication, is able to figure out how to multiply by 0 or 10, and therefore correctly answers the problems. It might take Student B longer to complete his test, but in the end, he will score better than Student A. I'm not totally sure what the exact question posed by this thread is (the original post doesn't exactly invite discussion), but getting back to the ideas of knowledge and wisdom, let me offer this thought: Knowledge + Experience = Wisdom. Let's look at this in the context of being a "good driver." You can read books on how the instruments in a car work, the traffic laws, etc, but unless you actually do it, this will not make you a good driver. Similarly, you can drive a vehicle around, but if you have no knowledge of the traffic laws or what all of the instruments really do, you won't be a good driver. It takes knowledge and experience.

[Howie]

[quote]Heh, my first post in the Philosophy forum 8) And a good post it was . You shall be DuBed > the Philosopher of the month! And the best knowledge you can have is to know that you don't know nothing, that is the only knowledge that will take you to knowledge. (too much 'knowledge's in only one sentence, eh?) I like that. I guess (humble) would come to mind.

[Awaken4e1]

Originally posted by AHiddenSaint Anyone can gain knowledge, but very few can gain wisedom. Without wisedom one can not apply knowledge therefore knowledge must not be power if one is not wise enough to use that power. Knowledge downloaded into the HHD does not equal useable Apps. Only the Apps used within one’s active OS are those Apps, which are truly ‘powerful’ in one’s function. Many gain masses of data on their HHD only to be set to the outer sectors of their swap file, being only rarely used taking up valuable space which can be used in the experiential usage. Many gain multiples of data to give a sense of worth, and are of no other use to the gatherer. Only the Apps, which are active in the MFT, are those, which are truly powerful. The Rev.

[Darkmatic]

Originally posted by Awaken4e1 Knowledge downloaded into the HHD does not equal useable Apps. Only the Apps used within one’s active OS are those Apps, which are truly ‘powerful’ in one’s function. Many gain masses of data on their HHD only to be set to the outer sectors of their swap file, being only rarely used taking up valuable space which can be used in the experiential usage. Many gain multiples of data to give a sense of worth, and are of no other use to the gatherer. Only the Apps, which are active in the MFT, are those, which are truly powerful. The Rev. Mate , just turn off the computer and step away for a second , its effecting the way you think . But seroiusly though , nice analogy . But also consider this , the APPS are still tools we use , and how we use them defines our wisdom . Kind of like knowlege , in life you may gain knowlege gain the tools to do what you wish , but how you use those tools and for what purpose defines who you are , and thus whether you are wise or foolish .

[Lucid Mind]

I really enjoy to put here an excerpt from a book: Power rests on the kind of knowledge that one holds.What is the sense of knowing things that are useless?They will not prepare us for our unavoidable encounter with the unknown. Carlos Castaneda

[Howie]

Originally posted by Darkmatic+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Darkmatic)</div> Mate , just turn off the computer and step away for a second [/b] <!--QuoteBegin-LucidMind I really enjoy to put here an excerpt from a book: "Power rests on the kind of knowledge that one holds.What is the sense of knowing things that are useless?They will not prepare us for our unavoidable encounter with the unknown." Who considers what is useless and what is not? And we are able to be aware of change. That is the knowledge that gives us the power, not control, over the unknown! Sad to say. But I do not think this has been mentioned. From my own experience. A good line of bullshit will get you farther (in the aspect of worldly views) than either of the two!

[Darkmatic]

Originally posted by Howetzer Who considers what is useless and what is not? And we are able to be aware of change. That is the knowledge that gives us the power, not control, over the unknown! Sad to say. But I do not think this has been mentioned. From my own experience. A good line of bullshit will get you farther (in the aspect of worldly views) than either of the two! So true , thats what some peoples jobs are based on , talking crap . But i say if you can make a living by doing that then good luck to you . If i could talk crap to get ahead i would too but unfortunately having a conscience has its drawbacks , one of which is that its hard just to make up crap .