Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Knowledge is power?

Question

If these 2 both commonly accept statements are both true..then can you not logicaly assume that the following statement is also true.
Knowledge corrupts and aboslute knowledge corrupts absolutly.

If this were so then the very act of "learning" is corrupting us?
Yes? No? What do you think

Answer 1

That is a fantastic question.

Yes power corrupts but not when accompanied with a sense of responsibility.

Similarly, knowledge makes one heady and overly confident and proud which is how knowledge corrupts - however, knowledge accompanied with wisdom does not corrupt.

Answer 2

Have you ever heard the philosophy that the more we learn the more disenchanted we become, for we know too much?
This borders the same philosophy. Corruption is something that happens with age, as well as mankind doing the crooked thing with his morals to cheat someone, for he has more knowledge and can get the best of the other thereby corrupting the whole process of knowledge as well. Knowledge is not corrupt people can be. And if you absolutely refuse to be corrupt than you will not let your knowledge erode and corrupt you will build on it or you wont apply your knowledge in the wrong areas. You will analyze and measure those thoughts for the pros and cons.That is why in science, some secrets or findings must not be revealed or it will be corrupt when applied into the wrong hands. Like giving a child a chemistry set and showing him how to build a bomb? That would be along those lines. It is all a matter of limitations, and where the interests lie and generally is where your talents are as well. The only absolute knowledge is only known to God. We do not live in a perfect world and Knowledge is a scientific word in all areas of life and the universe, therefore structured properly it will remain as a free channel in your mind and you will not suffer from corruption what so ever.

Answer 3

Knowledge is power. Power corrupts. But it doesn't logically follow that knowledge corrupts. Learning is one of the most beautiful & important aspects of life. But the more we know, the greater responsibility we have. You choose what you do with knowledge. Someone may be very wise, learned, but not be greedy or have a lust for power. Someone else may have a great deal of knowledge, coupled with ruthless ambition. They may use what they know for evil. Use their power to manipulate, control & hurt others.

We must be careful what we do with knowledge. The Book of Genesis was a cautionary tale. God told Adam & Eve not to eat from the tree of Knowledge, because it would mean losing innocence & being cast out of paradise (ignorance is bliss). Eve couldn't resist temptation & ate the apple and so suffered the punishment (of experience and responsibilty and living a life of struggle as we all do now...)

We have so much knowledge & it's expanding all the time. We use this knowledge to create technology which is always going further. The point is not to go too far. Not to abuse our power. For example, if we use our knowledge to tamper with nature (cloning etc which is morally wrong but now possible).

Answer 4

Well, if we begin our journey as tabula rasa (the blank slate theory), then I do see a strong argument for the contention that knowledge or learning soils the mind. Were it not for the sum of our experiences, knowledge and education we would, under this theory, exist as pure "as the driven snow". I think that the heart of the matter is our use and understanding of the term "corrupt" in the statements that you indicated and whether we can accept a slightly different interpretation of the word.

Answer 5

The act of compiling knowledge can be very impressive, however this knowledge does not automatically seam itself together to produce wisdom and understanding. The power of knowledge unaided by wisdom and understanding is a dreadful thing. It is not the "learning" that is corrupting us, but rather what we allow the learning to do and take control of our thought, and so be bound by "knowledgeable" decisions. In a nutshell, without the heart, untempered knowledge is not a friend.

Answer 6

First of all, power does not corrupt people. Although powerful people are often corrupted, correlation does not equal causation. That is a basic fact that all psychology students learn within the first day.

Power is like a gun. Having a gun does not mean you will shoot a person.

Power is like an attractive body. Having an attractive body does not mean you will become a prostitute.

Power is like a book. Having one does not mean you will read it.

Answer 7

If you make the previous clause true then you need to rephrase your next phrase it would then read - knowledge corrupts and absolute knowledge corrupts absolutely. Since absolute knowledge is unattainable there is no fear for absolute corruption and we are all corrupt to some extent so pursuing knowledge changes nothing.

Answer 8

it is a fascinating question, yet i don't think of the charges quite relate properly. I see what you're turning out to be at, yet information is potential on condition that used. Absolute potential will corrupt, yet information is only pwer if it used as a weapon. So absolute information while used as a weapon or thank you to combat will corrupt. yet while used for the sake of utilising it, i doubt it may corrupt itself.

Answer 9

Knowledge, in and of itself, will not corrupt a person.
Their moral values will however.
It would depend on how the knowledge is applied and used.

Answer 10

It is not what we learn but but we DO with what we learn.
God has absolute power yet, Is not corrupt in any way.
IF is a big word.