Would you prefer general knowledge in many areas or specific knowedge in one area?

Question

There are thousands of years of written history, of which The Classical-Christian nations are really understood or need to be understood in western society. On top of that, there are thousands of "tracks" to take withing even individual natural sciences, social sciences, literature, etc. to "pick" from.

Can you give up understanding physics in order to spend more time studying history more than you already do? Would you be willing to drive into knowing everything about the history of railroad therefore giving up knowing the history of manned space exploration?

If you're like me, and you have many interests that you want to understand, how do you pick? How do you make an order of operations? I am paralyzed by knowledge -- I don't even know where to start so I end up not reading at all, because I feel like picking the first book to read is a monumentous decision, like buying a car or a house.

Answer 1

I struggle with this... hahaha i want to know everything but at same time there are things that interest me alot... and i can't decide what to do... don't have enough time to do it all.

Answer 2

General knowledge in many areas seem more useful than specific knowledge in one area, especially in today's world.

Have general knowledge doesn't have to be master in everything you study. It also depends on for what purpose you want to learn something. If you learn physics for fun, you can just enjoy it but if you learn physics to make a living, you must know really well. The other thing is what kind of things you want to learn. If you are learning technical stuff such as computers, physics and mathematics, you have to accept lot of things that you learn. You can't say 1 +1 = 4. You have to accept the fact that the answer is 2. But if you want to learn about philosophy and arts, it's more about using your intellect rather than accepting what others have said.

If you have interests but can't decide where to start reading, just go one step at a time. Again it depends on what you want to understand. If you are more into technical stuff, you'll have to learn from basics and build it up from there. If you are into philosophy, why would you even bother reading other people's ideas? You can do your own thinking and come up with something. Isn't that what philosophers have done?

We need to read other people's ideas but we should not sink into it as a result we lose our own originality.

You can also learn stuff by listening to interviews, watching documentaries, listening to lectures, etc. That's what I usually do. I am not an avid reader myself but I use different resources to learn. Internet has it all. You can find text, audio and video. All for free!! Good luck..

Answer 3

I would rather have general knowledge rather than specific. Several reasons:
1. You can relate to many different people and have a lot in common with a lot of people.

2. For me at least, studying one thing all my life would get boring; I need variety!

3. If I had specific knowledge, there would be very few people who would appreciate it, everyone else would get bored.

4. Knowing a lot about one thing doesn't mean that you understand as much. I think that general knowledge would give you a better, bigger picture of what the world is really like.

Answer 4

I find it much better to know a little about many things. And maybe a bit more about a select few things. But I find it much more useful to go through life knowing about diverse things. Glory is only given to experts, though. Polyvalent people tend to go unnoticed - but as Aristotle would say, one should only take note of honors or shames that are deserved.
There's also a saying that goes: An expert is someone that knows more and more, about less and less. So in the end, an expert is someone who knows everything about nothing.

Answer 5

If Monkeys nonetheless exist, why are there atheists? Wait i'm no longer sparkling who asked this question. yet no longer so heavily- the real answer on your question is that absolutely everyone the different communities took over our communicate board. you spot that's easily meant to be an LDS in user-friendly terms or people who would be friendly to LDS communicate board, yet all people else took it over- and that's what we get. So we ought to make sparkling that the questions are in user-friendly terms for people who're truly meant to be in this communicate board interior the 1st place. ok GOSH!! yet heavily- particularly circumstances there are questions asked that are truly directed to those in this web site who're of that faith, particularly circumstances different communities does no longer comprehend or comprehend the respond. Like if a Catholic individual asked approximately starting to be a clergyman or something, maximum probable Catholics may be the suitable to respond to, and the question must be directed to them. i do no longer see it as unique, basically they are directing it to a definite team. some Questions must be open to all nevertheless, many questions must be open to all. i think of particularly circumstances, different perspectives are a stable factor. Edit** i could decide to work out R&S divided into different religious categories nevertheless- whether if it have been, i'm not sure i could comprehend any R&S atheists.

Answer 6

I personally have a general knowledge of many subjects and areas, but to all there is one area that you will be able to absorded the most from and that is your filed of study. There is nothing wrong with that, but you will always know a little more about an area than the rest.

Answer 7

Knowing a lot in just one area can leave you feeling lost for answers regarding most things so you would be more one dimensional and less able to relate to a higher percentage of people. If you are diversified you will be more confident in your knowledge of many more things allowing you flexibility socially.

Answer 8

My life experiences have taught me that I enjoy knowledge in many areas and specific knowledge in my chosen profession.
A balance of the two will make a happier more complete person.

Answer 9

It sounds to me like you are doing just fine on your current track. I think that specializing is more about career and income goals. Generally speaking, of course.

I once had a neighbor who was a nuclear physicist but didn't know how to change the flat tire on his car and asked me to help him with it but if I had to design a breeder reactor we would have less plutonium.

Answer 10

"Jack of all trades and master of ONE."
Would be the ideal.

Though to be fair, how many people can make it to the cutting edge of any profession, however specialised?
The main body of even a speciality is involved in teaching, applying, archiving, administering...
It takes serendipity or monomania to get to and ride the crest of knowledge.

(how many people know the origin and significance of the expression "cutting edge" technology, anyway?)

Answer 11

Specific.