Do you believe that "knowledge is power" and if so, why?

Question

What examples can you give from your own life that would prove this theory?

Answer 1

"Knowledge is power" is a poetic overstatement. Knowledge allows a more effective utilization of power. If I know what someone intends to do, I can use my resources to bring about the effect that I want. In a military application, if I know that an enemy tank unit is out of fuel, I can use their lack of ability to maneuver to my advantage. If I know that a buyer who is interested in my house is pre-approved for $200K, I can negotiate more effectively since I know that $210K is likely out of the question, but if he's stuck at $190K, I can likely push him higher.

Answer 2

Knowledge is false power.
Wisdom is the understanding of how to use knowledge well.

Example:
The Internet is full of knowledge, yet "The Internet" on it's own cannot use the knowledge for any purpose.

A person who uses the Internet can obtain the knowledge on how to build a nuclear bomb, yet may or may not possess the wisdom of how to deal with this knowledge. They may not even be able to put one together (da bomb) with the knowledge provided by the Internet. Should they find the means to gather the material & skills to build one, they still lack the wisdom of the power of what they've created.

A person who has studied nuclear technology, ethics, and has seen the effects of the nuclear weapon on the victims and the enviroment has more wisdom than the fool who clings to his false knowledge found on the Internet. However, wise men sometimes loose sight of the wisdom they've acquired too.

We should not overlook the damage these fools can do; but this is not power but rather selfishness. Just because you "Can" does not always mean that you "Should".

Answer 3

Knowledge is power, power in the sense that it helps us think more creatively, critically and effectively. Knowledge helps us to make rational and informed choices. For example when we know the meaning of hot we do no stick our hands on a hot object to avoid the pain of a burn. This helps to protect us. An FBI profiler uses the knowledge they have acquired to profile certain types of characteristics that can describe the behavior of a criminal as to aid in identifying and capturing them. There are many numerous examples of how having a little knowledge can help you overcome the many obstacles life throws at you.

Answer 4

truth can't be threatened...ignorance can.
thus, knowledge (true knowledge) is power.

it's an issue of power vs. force.
Force becomes spent...it exhausts itself. Trying to spread ignorance, you get challeneged, and eventually defeated.

Power on the other hand, does not get spent. It simply IS. It is like Truth, as it is non-conforming. Whether it is accepted or not, it cannot be threatened. Nobody can take knowledge away from you.

So, to really substantiate the theory, it really has to be done on the basis of showing how ignorance inevitably leads to loss, since power itself is not so active as a force. It is like a magnetic field...the field does nothing but be that which it is, though everything which encounters the field is transformed by it.

-Rob

Answer 5

I have studied all my life and none of it really mattered much until someone tipped me off to the teachings of Jerry and Esther Hicks. This happened in 1998 and the knowledge they allowed me to learn from them gave me an extreme make-over from the point of view of power. So yes knowledge is power. With this knowledge one gets a point of reference that never fails. No matter the question, if it is looked at from the point of view of the law of attraction (part of the science of deliberate creation) the answer is very easy to get to. There can be no half-truths to mislead one.
It is so easy, I am always surprised when people choose to criticize this info without checking it out, I mean one really doesn`t have anything to lose. I do understand why they do it but I am still surprised that they do. Pride doth go before the fall.

Answer 6

Yes, I do. Let me cite a contemporary example, that is, North Korea which has been sectioned and requested to talk for a solution on her, presumably, nuclear potential. This definitely infers the country's knowledge in the field to the extent that she can produce, control and wield any nuclear weapon toward any enemy. Therefore, such knowledge is power, then we can look at ourselves, say, some formidable friends with great knowledge, just think if he/she has any power. I'm quite sure he/she does in some ways.

Answer 7

I believe that knowledge is power because once you learn something it cannot be taken away from you. A prime example- I learned a lot about career development and job searching when I worked at an employment program. I see other people who apply for jobs in jeans, have no resume, unable to communicate effectively, and it limits them and the jobs they can get.

Answer 8

I believe if you go back and read the essays of Sir Francis Bacon you will that he did in fact say "knowledge is Power" but further along he stated that only knowledge which is applied is power for what good is knowledge without the gumption to apply. In my own life knowledge remains dormant until a point in which I need to apply it in someway.

Answer 9

I haven't yet gotten my college education. I cannot get a good job, and have actually had a job offer, until they found out about my lack of a degree. Money is power and without the knowledge that a good education provides, this power will often be beyond your reach.

Blessings and thank you for the great Q!

Answer 10

Yea. Because you can help other people through tough situations with knowledge. I am from New Orleans and i knew that it would be alright after the hurricane hit and i had to convince a friend that was the truth. It turned out ok.