The Illusion of Knowledge

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 23 October 2024 Two quotes of Michael Crichton, whose birth anniversary falls on October 23, have always caused and compelled me to think as both are ever-relevant: "The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge" AND " Human beings never think for themselves, they find it too uncomfortable. For the most part, members of our species simply repeat what they are told –- and become upset if they are exposed to any different view." In the first quote, Michael Crichton perfectly encapsulates the paradoxical nature of knowledge. Often, we tend to think that ignorance is the primary obstacle preventing us from acquiring knowledge. However, Crichton argues that the illusion of knowledge can be an even greater impediment. The dangerous illusion arises when we mistakenly believe that we possess knowledge on a subject, thereby closing ourselves off from new perspectives or information. This false sense of expertise can hinder intellectual growth and inhibit our ability to critically analyse and question what we think we know. Thus, Crichton highlights the importance of humility and open-mindedness as essential qualities in the pursuit of genuine knowledge. Khwaja Ahmad Abbas would often say, "Hum Mein Se Bahut Se Log Aise Hain Jo Iss Ghalatfahmi Mein Zindagi Guzaar Dete Hain Ki Unhein Sab Pata Hai" (Many of us have this lifelong misunderstanding that they're omniscient). The illusion of knowledge is indeed dangerous because it makes individuals deluded, obstinate and also belligerent. Such people are never willing to accept that they could be wrong at times. It's easy to wake up a person who is sleeping but it's hard to wake up someone who is pretending to be asleep. An ignorant person can be taught but who thinks himself to be a polymath cannot learn anything because he or she is fiercely resistant to learning. In the second quote by Michael Crichton, he suggests that human beings are often unwilling to think independently and prefer to rely on the ideas they are fed, finding it uncomfortable to form their own thoughts. Crichton argues that people predominantly tend to echo and reinforce the viewpoints that are directly given to them, demonstrating a resistance to alternative perspectives. Furthermore, he notes that encountering divergent opinions often evokes unease and dissatisfaction in individuals. This quote shines a light on the potential limitations of human thought and calls into question our ability to truly engage in critical thinking and open-mindedness. This applies to our religious thinking. We tend to believe what was taught to us by our ignorant and frightened ancestors. Independent thinking is always a painful process whereas yielding to societal and collective thinking needs no efforts. We're conformists because we love complacency and comforts. We don't question because we don't want to swim against the tide. We don't welcome new and revolutionary ideas for, they upset the applecart of our archaic and timeworn thinking and threaten to change the status quo of existence. Humans prefer to remain flimflammed because that gives them a sense of docile satisfaction and blissful inertia. ------ A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/illusion-knowledge/d/133514 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism