Why is knowledge power?

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   Gareth Pritchardposted 11 years ago

   Why is knowledge power?
   
   Knowledge is power, I hear this quoted often but would like a broader answer than just my own, please share your thoughts on this.
   
   

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   Michelle Widmannposted 11 years ago

   That is such a wonderful question.
   
   To me, knowledge is power, because knowledge means the absence of ignorance. When a person is ignorant, they don't know when things around them may be corrupt; they simply go through life carefree. When a person has knowledge, they have the power to make more decisions, have a broader view of what the truth is, and have the opportunity to rise up and change the way things are.

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      Gareth Pritchardposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you for your answer and an interesting take on it,  it is too.

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   Mr. Happyposted 11 years ago

   Well, in my opinion the world is made-up of patterns of Being (be they animate or inanimate) and the better we understand/learn these patterns, the easier we can manipulate them and thus, our Being.
   
   Sun Tsu said: "If You know the enemy and know yourself, You do not need to fear the next hundred battles." Or I can use a G.I.Joe quote (maybe You like comics ...): "Knowing is half the battle."
   
   Knowing just makes the walk down or path easier and that is why Knowledge is Power - it Helps. Just my opinion.
   
   All the very best!
   
   P.S. Love the drawing You posted! : )

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      Gareth Pritchardposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Ha, ha, Mr. Happy, I might have known you would have something to say, for your information that painting is not a drawing, just joking around no offence intended, nice to know your about, I like the patterns of being, that's a good way to put it.

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      Mr. Happyposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Trippy painting then ... can tell how much I know about drawing/painting ... I just like creative expression - that is what we All are anyway: creative patterns of Being. Cheers! : )

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      Gareth Pritchardposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Sorry but it's more a nightmare to me, the progress of life into machines and I suppose nightmares however horrible they might be are also trippy as well, it never dawned on me before either.Yes you might not know but you can appreciate a picture.

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   duffsmomposted 11 years ago

   Because knowledge is information and the more information we have, the more the world makes sense. We are able to form opinions based on knowledge, we can make more informed choices in our lives etc.

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      Gareth Pritchardposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, simple to the point and a bit like my own take on it, that's why I asked the question because no offence intended but I wanted a bigger grasp of it. Simple is most often best because any fool can complicate things as somebody once said. Thanks

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   RobinBullposted 11 years ago

   Life has not been particularly kind to me.  Ten years ago at 25, I had a heart attack.  I've had multiple surgeries including heart surgery.  For the record - I am not overweight or have any other things that should cause someone at that age to have that happen.  I have Systemic Lupus.  I have problems with almost every joint.  My doctor thinks by this time next year I may be confined to a wheelchair.  These are all things life can take away from me. 
   
   Knowledge is not something that can be taken from me once it is gained.  It is a priceless treasure and mine until the day I go to the Summerlands.

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      Gareth Pritchardposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Hi, unfortunately not a good position to be in but you do have a positive take on it, today's worries will not change tomorrows problems but they will affect tomorrows happiness if left unattended, a piece of reality from a real situation, thanks.

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   Lisa HWposted 11 years ago

   Knowledge is power because it helps equip people with the tools to process, put in perspective, address, and accomplish things like challenges, problems, and aims.  It's also power when it helps a person understand himself and others.  It isn't ALWAYS power, however; because sometimes "the game" is not played by the rules and instead is played without regard for things like laws, truth, and rules, in which case, even the most knowledgeable individual can be put at a serious disadvantage.
   
   Of course, if there were a way to have knowledge about how to immunize oneself against having others disregard laws, truth, and rules; then that would be the kind of knowledge that "sealed the deal" on knowledge being power.

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      Gareth Pritchardposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Empathy is a knowledge of self and others I never thought of it as knowledge before and people who cheat often have great empathy of others which is also something I have only recently learned. Interesting new stuff for me thanks.

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   cw-morrisposted 11 years ago

   Lets look at the quote "Knowledge is power"  and ask how do we gain power from knowledge or what power does knowledge give. Power is by Webster's :the ability to act or produce and effect OR :possession of control authority or influence over others. The two most fitting definitions for this situation in my opinion. 
   
   Knowledge is simply knowing, if someone is knowledgeable they know more of something then other people. That knowledge gives them the upper hand and they can make more informed opinions or ideas. They would be able to produce an effect in that imaginary decision making scenario.
   
   Secondly in a similar situation between groups or individual were knowledge is needed imagine the leaders of nations or businesses, their power comes from the knowledge they have. These people are able to lead and decide on things that effect large numbers of people because of their knowledge. They know what to do and when to do it because they have the knowledge that grants them the power.

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      Gareth Pritchardposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      The bit about the upper hand by using the knowledge fits with something I came across. it said "knowledge is only powerful if you use it" otherwise it's just knowledge, for me that puts a different slant on it, Knowledge isn't power it can be, thanks

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   barrierbreakerposted 11 years ago

   Having knowledge is like having a user's manual to your vehicle and a map.  Your circumstances are the vehicle itself, and you need desire to have a destination.  So knowledge is power, but, realistically, success requires a bit more.

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      Gareth Pritchardposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks that's a good analogy.

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   cat on a soapboxposted 11 years ago

   These answers are all good!  Knowledge is powerful from the sense that it takes away the fear of the unknown which can be very crippling to many people. Ignorance may be bliss to some, but seeking and learning are empowering to most.

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      Gareth Pritchardposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      That's yet again something else that hasn't crossed my mind, thanks for helping us empower ourselves, cool.

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    pauley13posted 11 years ago

    Knowledge in an of itself is NOT power. It's just knowledge. Like any tool, knowledge needs to be APPLIED before it MAY lead to "power."
    
    And then there's the issue of what "power" really means - and to whom.
    
    Aristotle, Plato, Socrates - they all had "knowledge" well ahead of their contemporaries. But did they gain "power" from it? Yes, if by "power" you mean a sense of superiority, or lots of enamored followers. But NO, if you mean "political" or "military/physical" power.
    
    A LITTLE knowledge APPLIED can lead to a lot more "power" than a LOT of knowledge left dormant.
    
    Knowledge properly applied CAN lead to power.
    
    But then again, so can chutzpah!

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    wheatbaybayposted 11 years ago

    Knowledge is power. For a person who isn't seeking knowledge is going to be lacking an important asset. Knowledge is the key to understanding the world we live in and what we can expect in the future. I recently went back to college and learn just how much I didn't know. Therefore, I wanted to learn and as much as I could. You possess power over some one who isn't in the know; you have the advantage.  I encourage everyone to get an education beyond high school if possible. Knowledge is an asset; its something that no one can rob you of, con you out of, scam you for, or take away from you. Knowledge is priceless!

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       Gareth Pritchardposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Thanks, I agree with your points and also know that we all learn stuff all the time even without even trying. Just living our lives we learn stuff but it is also very useful to go to college if you can to get some direction and structure.

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       wheatbaybayposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Yes we do learn something everyday without even trying to. It's very true that we learn something new everyday. It might be something very small that we learn and we still may be able to benefit from what we have learn.

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    AMAZING THINKERposted 11 years ago

    Just Imagine you lost your memory.
    Right now you don't have any memory, you can't talk, read, type, in other words you don't have any knowledge of anything, what are you going to do now, you are like a newborn, you have to learn everything all over again.
    All our life we learn, learning new information all the time, getting knowledge.
    You can lose everything you have right now but with power of knowledge you can build everything back.
    "Knowledge is power" is not just a quote, its a law.

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       Gareth Pritchardposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       In your context the idea that knowledge is only power if you use it is a nonsense really then because you have to use your knowledge to even have a life, otherwise you would be dependent on someone or something else to make decisions for you. Thanks.

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       AMAZING THINKERposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       You don't get it!
       Read it again, knowledge is what you KNOW, if you don't know anything then you can't do anything.
       And maybe you didn't read the second part.

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       Gareth Pritchardposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Your right, I don't get what, I agree with you, I was just pointing out that in something else I read it said that knowledge was only power if you used it but that isn't true, knowledge is power if you use it or not, it is still power.

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       wheatbaybayposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       I totally agree Gareth. Knowledge is power no matter how you use it.

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       Gareth Pritchardposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Yes, thanks to you and everyone else this has been rewarding for me.  It has given me what I asked for and more. Which is a broader understanding as well as the realization that knowledge is power in and of it's self.

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    Jynzlyposted 11 years ago

    That is only an assumption. Knowledge is not always power. Knowledge can only be power if it can be used and put into work productively and for the good of every one concerned. Many people have knowledge about specific things but they cannot use it in a given situation. Nobody has all the knowledge of everything there is to know in this world no matter how long one lives and spends every minute of his whole life learning or studying. One can only have one or two or maybe more expertise but he still just know a dot of what is here to know in this world. This premise makes knowledge limited to a given time and space. What truly is power is wisdom. Wisdom is tactfulness and it knows when, where, how and what to do in any given time. Wisdom works perfectly in all areas of a given persons whole existence where knowledge has boundaries.

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    old albionposted 11 years ago

    Knowledge is power because it gives you the ability to control. Whatever the situation, if you have knowledge of it and others do not, then you can control the outcome of their efforts or actions. That is power.

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    DDEposted 11 years ago

    Knowledge is power individuals have an opportunity to explore what they know and to solve a problem to be able to help others and to help themselves

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