How do you combat ignorance?

Answer 1

Education, knowledge, open-mindedness

Answer 2

When I think of the word ignorance I see the word "ignore" in there. Ignorance is a result of ignoring logic and knowledge. Many people here answered with education and knowledge, but those things only work with people who are receptive to it. When people are not receptive to education and knowledge, when they "ignore" these things they eventually become ignorant.

Why would people choose this path because they do not have the ability to decide what is wrong or right on their own so they tend to go with what "feels" right. If you look at politics for example you will see many people, specially on this site, cling to a certain point of view without logical justification. They regurgitate the words of some talking heads, but in the end they only repeat analysis, but are incapable of making their own analysis.

So how do you combat ignorance? How do you make people stop ignoring the truth? The answer is you can't. The problem is endemic though and will eventually seriously disrupt social and world order. Ignorant people are dangerous and tend to respond emotionally if their ideas are challenged. The best way to deal with ignorance is marginalize it and never let it gain power. You can't change ignorant people, they have to decide to change themselves, all you can do is make sure that you minimize the damage they cause.

Answer 3

By changing education from being a business to a source of true and free knowledge for all; like the Internet.
By removing barriers of entry to educational sources, and institutions.
By marketing education instead of competition.
By promoting philosophy instead of religion.

The human brain has evolved into the most robust learning machine. Knowledge passed to future generations is the reason we are at this level of civilization. If everyone had to reinvent the wheel, we'd all still be cavemen.

Answer 4

Knowledge, knowledge and more knowledge- life is a constant learning process. Anyone who stops this great experience of learning is missing out on the reason for living. Without knowledge we may as well be a vegetable - i.e. ignorant.

Answer 5

With objective education, but that's difficult when sometimes the person won't listen at all.

I've tried ignoring them but that just lets the "ignorance" of whatever the issue/s is fester and grow.

No idea really.

Answer 6

With knowledge.
How do you spread knowledge?
By education.
How do you educate?
By the resolve of a people to make sure there is education.
How will there be people who will push education?
By them being educated.
Why were they educated?
Because the people before them wanted to combat ignorance.
It is a cycle

Answer 7

either ignore it, educate the ignorant or be a good example and hope that they follow extol the virtues of education to all who will listen and heed your advise and be an example of an educated person at all time above all have patience and never give in or give up

Answer 8

most common cure for ignorance is knowledge, and education. Sometimes that doesn't work then it can be a lost cause...

Answer 9

by increasing one's knowledege. by arousing the desire to learn new things everyday. by reading one good newspaper daily. by conversing with interesting, knowledgeable people.
and keeping this process constant all throughout one's life. and by visiting Yahoo answers on a regular basis :)

Answer 10

First by admitting it and secondly by attempting to change it for the better with education and training...