How do you define knowledge? Is it based on application or acquisition? We humans spent our lives in search of our better self like an eternal journey, a journey that only becomes clearer as we acquire more knowledge. Knowledge being an element that has become a distinguished factor in the lives of every human, it is tantamount to anything a human wants to become in life. Truth be told, knowledge is what defines a human, the more knowledgeable you are the more easy it becomes to express oneself in places that matters and make magnificent contributions.
It is strange how such a flexible element could control every aspect of our life, when I say "flexible" I meant knowledge doesn't necessarily have to be acquired formally and its acquisition is not pertaining to any factor or race, it is a free field for everyone who is willing to learn but then there was a factor that used to be an hindrance in the acquisition of knowledge in the olding days, knowledge was a matter of accessibility. In those days we had scholars who had to source for knowledge in far away lands. Quite strange how something that so flexible could equally be scarce, such were the difficulties our forefathers had to face.
Now we are in a new age when knowledge is at our fingertips, thanks to civilisation and advancement in technology which has brought about tools that has made it a lot easier to access any form of materials we could learn from at our own pace. Speaking of such tools, we have the internet, a global phenomenon that has shocked the world in so many ways. It is no longer anything new that in this present era we can have access to any kind of Information on the internet which comes in many forms, graphics, written, audio e.t.c all you have to do is type it in and the next you see is different sources offering all kinds of materials.
Isn't that commendable? You don't longer have to move an inch to access information, we have indeed come far compared to how we used to be. The most funny aspect of it is the fact that you could even get home schooled without going through the formal education system as long as you have access to the internet. Who would have thought of that? That is how close we are to knowledge, it is everywhere at every turn or corner. For a generation so close to knowledge it wouldn't be a mistake to say we should be equally knowledgeable but it seems the more knowledgeable we become the more we become enslaved by it.
If you were really reading through without missing any full-stop which I believe you didn't, you would remember I mentioned something at the beginning, How do you define knowledge? Is it based on application or acquisition? Well let me ask again using a different approach, what value is acquisition of knowledge without applying it? This is what I find myself asking most people who considered themselves to be more educated, having numerous glittering accolades, honours and degrees to prove how knowledgeable they have become. Is that all there is? Is it the only thing that could serve as evidence of being knowledgeable? I tell you right here at this moment the answer is no. Currently my country is plagued with a category of people tagged as "Educated illiterate" does it not sound pitiful.
It turns out that for a generation that claims to have access to knowledge like ever before lacks the ability to put their knowledge to practice. I mean if you are indeed knowledgeable act like it. We have a lot of absurdities and abnormalities in our present society that never used to exist, it is starting to look like the knowledge we claim to have is starting to do us more harm than good. I would have make some instances but I wouldn't want to sound cynical or anti-society or anti-civilisation or anti-government kind of person but looking at the current happenings in our society it has become a lot difficult for me to assume anyone up there, in the position of governance and putting some policies in place is indeed knowledgeable but here we are.
I wouldn't deny the fact the quest for knowledge has brought about all kinds of development in our society in every sector but in terms of ethics and morality I can't say we have gotten any far, in our quest to become more knowledgeable and bring about freedom from ignorance, we have become blinded to what actually matters, all that is left is greed for personal glory.
So when you say something like, our accessibility to knowledge does it make us more knowledgeable than predecessor? Yes we are. Are we more smarter and intelligent than they were? Yes we are. But than that is all there is, when it comes matters such as are we more wise than they were? Sadly we are not. They were wise enough to put humanity first before anything else, I wonder if our predecessors ever needed to worry about global warming? Is it not funny how something so natural could now become a problem caused by our inventions. Our predecessors were wise enough to emphasize on ethics and morality yet we claimed they were hiding behind culture and traditions, we claimed their perspective of the world was outdated. If I may ask, what was the rate of abnormalities in those days, e.g rape, drug abuse e.t.c but yet we claim we are the most knowledgeable generation, is it not ironic?
This write-up was inspired by weekly featured content titled "Is easy access a blessing" in hive learners community.
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