Does Knowledge Make Us Blind?
The other day in class, I was asked to reflect on what it was like to at one point be a child and how that had shaped my perspective. While it was not the point of the assignment, my mind began to spiral endlessly until I asked myself, “Do children see the world better than adults?” I began contemplating if we lose the valuable skills accompanying childhood as we age and why we abandon these skills that seem necessary to succeed in the twenty-first century. In my inquiry, I began to question if the answer lies in our quest for knowledge. Maybe it’s in our quest for knowledge that we become blind; unable to see the world in our unique way. Surely, this seems like a rather contradictory question and that’s because it is.
Insight
As individuals get older they begin to develop a perspective on the world. This perspective is shaped by experiences, knowledge, and other factors that mold the individual. This allows an individual to find their relative place in the world, However, the question of whether or not it sets them on a path that’s limited in scope remains. Perhaps children are the key to understanding this dilemma. There are limitations to what knowledge a child can produce, but there is still something there. Children see a bedsheet draped over a chair as this castle fort. They see their room as an ever-expanding universe where the possibilities are endless. Interestingly, children can also see the world for what it is. This is an interesting balancing act. While children’s imaginations are beyond measure, they also have this other side to them that allows them to make observations of the world that are more authentic. Young children, as they develop a sense of self in relation to the world around them, make observations that could be useful. In some instances, we need to see the creative avenues before us, and, in other instances, we need to see things for what they are. This is certainly a difficult task, and, unfortunately, one I would argue shapes our world today.
The Lost Skills
As I have moved through my education, one thing has remained constant. Whether applying for jobs, internships, or professional schools there's an underlying emphasis that the desired candidate for these positions is someone who has critical thinking skills. It’s easy for any of us to think that we can easily solve problems and think abstractly. But, when it comes down to it, when we need to think critically or see things differently we fail to do so either by seeing too much of something or not seeing enough. Critical thinking has found its place in our society as a scarce resource. Being able to see beyond preconceived notions is equally valuable.
Analogy
To consider this question, think of a child as a coffee cup. I think it’s fair to say that most of us are familiar with a Keurig. You fill water in the tank, place the k-cup in the slot, close the compartment and click go. You may be wondering why I am asking you to think about coffee. I promise it has a point! The process of making coffee entails starting with different materials, putting them together, but then filtering them so you get this desired outcome in your cup (the coffee). A child, as they age, becomes more and more affected by the world around them. This is why family is one of the most important socialization factors. A child begins to understand the world from interacting with the people around them. Children, as they age, become a byproduct of ideas, values and knowledge of others. They begin to learn more through their education and observing others. This is when they begin to abandon the abilities given to them in childhood that would serve them well later on in life. Limitations One of the best examples of children being able to see things that adults can’t is in art. Art is interpretational and comes in all forms. Picture a painting hanging up on the wall. It has what looks like a person floating through a space bordered by stars. It can be abstract, dull but colorful and can have meaning or none at all. Is this an existential crisis being mapped out on the canvas? Is it an allegory linked to a deep personal connection? Or, is it just these random things that were thrown on a canvas and labeled “art?” Please understand, this is not an attack on art. Instead, it is just a way to think about how children visualize and interpret things. A child can look at this same painting that I’ve derived meaning from my philosophy and literature classes, and see that it is nothing. Why is this important?
Significance
While knowledge plays a vital role in shaping our understanding of the world, it also limits us. Knowledge opens society up to bias whether that be on a conscious or unconscious level. While bias is a normal part of life, the danger arises when humans only see through the scope established by that bias. We begin to not see the world for what it is, but rather as a reality that is clouded and drowned out by the supposed ideas of what should be. The question no longer is what it is because, in the search, we end up applying whatever we think about it anyway. Children, arguably because of their unique status, have the ability to, at least for a short amount of time, avoid doing this.
Conclusion
The question then becomes: Does knowledge make us blind? To some extent, I am unsure about the answer to this question. People may find that knowledge is the key to expanding ourselves both intellectually and personally, so it could only be beneficial to shaping our perspective and outlook on the world. That is because knowledge can open your mind up to possibilities, questions, and inquiry. However, on the other hand, people like myself will argue that gaining knowledge places a dense fog over our eyes that we try to see through. Maybe, in trying to gain knowledge, we abandon what could help us succeed in our later life such as the valuable skills needed to succeed in the twenty-first century. Maybe the solution is to inquire more about why children can do what they do, and explore ways in which we can replicate that in our adult life.
Image obtained from Squarespace
