If knowledge is power and power corrupts, doesn't knowledge corrupt?

Question

If knowledge is power, and power corrupts, and corruption is crime, and crime doesnt pay... Does knowledge, in the end, leave you broke?

Answer 1

Try using the scientific method to find out:

The scientific method involves the following basic facets:

Description. Information must be reliable, i.e., replicable (repeatable) as well as valid (relevant to the inquiry).
Prediction. Information must be valid for observations past, present, and future of given phenomena, i.e., purported "one shot" phenomena do not give rise to the capability to predict, nor to the ability to repeat an experiment.
Control. Actively and fairly sampling the range of possible occurrences, whenever possible and proper, as opposed to the passive acceptance of opportunistic data, is the best way to control or counterbalance the risk of empirical bias.
Understanding. Identification of the cause or causes of a particular phenomenon to the best achievable extent. Before a factor that is the object of research can be said to be understood, the following conditions must be met:
Covariation of events. The hypothesized cause must correlate with observed effect.
Time-order relationship. The hypothesized cause must occur before observed effect.
Elimination of plausible alternatives. This is a gradual process which requires repeated experiments by multiple researchers who must be able to replicate the results to validate them

Answer 2

Outrageous wit. You are correct. Being smart can leave you broke, yet being in a position of power virtually always corrupts. Knowledge can corrupt if someone has the intellectual prowess to covert that knowledge into the power of greed and hate.

Answer 3

It isn't about what you know or how much power you have. Knowledge and power alone cannot corrupt, it's the human behind it all. Knowledge and power don't make decisions for themselves, we make the decisions, we are the ones who corrupt things.

Answer 4

yup, many employers don't want someone too intelligent 'they cause trouble' they'd prefer some ignorant sap that they can exploit and take advantage of. The truth hurts, imagine realizing everyone is self interested and nobility is just a front. Love is a misunderstand chemical state in our brains and your just a monkey. It sucks, much nicer to think that there is a reason for it all and you actually give a damn about me more than just what i can do for you or how i make you feel.

Answer 5

Have u ever taken geometry? well, theres these "If....then...." statements that are used, such as "If a figure has 360degrees, then it is a circle." you can turn it around, and the phrase would still be correct. "If the figure is a circle, then it has 360 degrees." you can also use it in worldly terms too, such as "if the name of the city is sacremento, then it is in california" this one can also be turned around. there are also certain phrases u CAN'T turn around, such as "If it is winter, than i will be cold" i know, very basic, but my point is it won't work the other way "If i am cold, then it is winter" because i could be cold during summer too, say, for example, i camped in the mountains or went swimming in a cold pool. My point is, there is certain phrases that don't work both ways, and yours is one of them. It just doesn't work like that, you've over anaylized.

Answer 6

Very clever.

I don't feel as though my knowledge has given my any power. Maybe I have the wrong knowledge.

Answer 7

Absolute power corrupts. Thats why we have a checks and balance system in our government. Good question though.

Answer 8

Just ask your president , ha..... kidding, but no knowledge is not a path to corruption......look at mac geyver....hes smart and uses it for the good of man, like a hooker in med school.....

Answer 9

There's a difference between self empowerment (knowledge) and power (absolute power), knowledge can be applyed in many ways... not just in bad ways ...
;-)

Answer 10

Knowledge and wisdom come with a price. The more you know and understand the more you are responsible for in your life. They don't say ignorance is bliss for nothing.