It was said that socrates near the end of his life stated "I know only one thing, that I know nothing."
I don't mean practical knowledge is bad, it's necessary for living and it's fun to learn, but are all the beliefs and ideals and ideas we have about life necessary? What would life be like if the sense of wonder and true questioning and socrates "not knowing" became prominent in our life? Would it open doors to a whole new mysterious world? (the world most children inhabit)
2006-07-21 16:32:44 · 12 answers · asked by .. 5 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
All great answers so far--thanks. My interpretation of not knowing is to drop knowing about something and experience it's mystery without the facts about it. I can know the scientific facts about how a sunset occurs or I can know all about a person but can the facts about this be dropped sometimes and can the wonder of it all be felt? Knowing about something is interesting and helpful but seeing the beauty and mystery of the thing is a totally different ballgame. This world is a mystery! All the knowledge and facts in the world-about the world doesn't help add to that mystery. It seems only childlike eyes and a mind without preconceived ideas can see it.
2006-07-22 03:56:03 · update #1
We need knowledge of things to perform tasks in our physical world
However
I think you are asking, is the end of thoughts the beginning of wisdom, YES, to realise one knows nothing about the true nature of life and the universe is simply admitting the truth to ones self and if one can't admit the truth to one's self then one's mind will always be filled with the confusion of many thoughts. Let your mind clear.... let gravity connect your mind to the universe and see the truth of everything.
I have not expressed this very well sorry...
you know you meditate...
you ask great questions also
2006-07-23 14:23:59 · answer #1 · answered by James 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
It seems like if there is an infinite amount of knowledge to be had. One could never know everything. Only way to find out truths is to question. I think thats why children live in a mysterious world. They are continously asking questions. The difference is though, they are getting the answers that the adults around them have formulated. When you are able to truely question and breakdown even those answers that are accepted, then that is the begining of wisdom. When Socrates said that " I know only one thinkg, that I know nothing" I believe that he meant that there is much much more to explore in this universe then he was able to in his life time. And at every turn a truth can be proven wrong. There is an infinite amount of proofs out there for any given question and we are only able to discover those proofs if we ask the right questions.
2006-07-21 23:51:52 · answer #2 · answered by honiebee 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Questioning, hypothesizing, and wonder are integral to humanity. Seems like you have several strands of questions going on here and to answer them thoroughly would take a while. If you don't mind, I am going to focus on the Socrates quote. Socrates was remarking about the smugness of intellectuals of his calibre. In saying that (a man acknowledged in his own time as being the brightest of mental flames) he was making a statement about the acquisition of knowledge. Thus, he had learned all there was to learn and yet he was cognizant that his knowledge was but nothing in comparison to say a deity or a more advanced civilization. We can spend our entire waking lives learning and still know but a miniscule fraction of the knowledge in the world. Socrates was smart enough to know that no matter how much he had learned or deciphered, in the grand scheme of things his brilliance was almost nothing. As for the rest of your question, very little (beliefs, ideas, and ideals) are necessary to survive, but they are necessary if we are to ever rise above our present condition and be more than we are now. This sense of wonder and questioning is present in life, just not everyone utilizes it or sees a need to(ex. a shepherd has no need to learn about calculus, but if he should want to he can apply himself to this end). If you seek whay has not been found then doors can open to you, but first you have to look for them, this is not a we question, but a question of one's own self.
2006-07-22 00:04:26 · answer #3 · answered by House 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, many philosophers would say that seeking knowledge is wisdom. For example, Diogenes and the stoics in general believe that a person who lives the good life is one who is always living in the pursuit of knowledge. Since a person who lives the good life is obviously wise, knowledge is obviously the source of wisdom.
2006-07-22 00:02:15 · answer #4 · answered by FiatJusticia 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I do not remember whom I am Quoting hear but "To question is the answer." Copernicus asked why the heavenly bodies moved in the manner that they do. Newton asked why falling bodies are attracted to the center of the earth. Albert Einstein asked what effect does the speed of light have on our perception of reality. "To question is the answer".
A side note to Wayne S - Fear can only stifle Wisdom and awareness and who is this Lord that you are so afraid of?
2006-07-22 00:26:20 · answer #5 · answered by JOE N 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you were to read the Tao of Pooh it is exactly what Socrates said - Knowing is a never ending path, wisdom is learning as you follow that path!
2006-07-21 23:39:01 · answer #6 · answered by STARLITE 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes
2006-07-21 23:46:09 · answer #7 · answered by ole_lady_93 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. And a bunch of people incapable of getting anything done. If you can live in a world like that, then you're ok. Me, I prefer a world where people can make decisions, right or wrong, at least they get off their ***.
2006-07-21 23:36:18 · answer #8 · answered by lowerbearville 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The fear of the Lord is the Beginning of true Wisdom!
2006-07-21 23:42:07 · answer #9 · answered by Wayne S 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Man's Knowledge is but a grain of Sand...................
2006-07-22 06:57:52 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋