Fellow Atheists: Is knowledge an end in itself, or do you feel the need to DO?

Question

I am satisfied to understand how something works and don't feel the need to actually do it. I lose interest once I understand the subject.

Answer 1

I'm good with knowledge. I'm not so good with doing.

This is why all the stuff I research and put together, I anonymously dispense to people in various fields to develop without ties to me.

Answer 2

I feel like there has to be a component to do. If you look at a tree for instance, an tree doesn't just grow in a straight line it keeps bending itself to the sun to help its growth. I think it is the same thing with humans. We have to keep bending ourselves meaning with knowledge and then do the things which life requires of us in order to grow. Monotheism is the greatest abomination that has ever hit mankind, whether it is Christians(look at your past) or Muslims. Wake up dammit! Your killing us.

Answer 3

I think that the point of life is to have a variety of experiences, so I'm definitely in favor of doing as well. For example, about three weeks ago I flew and recovered a sounding rocket I'd made, reaching 3800 feet and about 400 miles per hour and collecting acceleration and external temperature data. Someday when I'm my death bed (and the fundies are expecting me to panic and convert to Christianity ), I'll be smugly comfortable in the fact that I did these kinds of things and so did not waste my time on Earth.
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I love the answer above mine. You made my day.

Answer 4

For me, I feel the need to keep the balance of the two. Knowledge alone is cold, action alone is chaotic; but action combined with knowledge leads to wisdom.

Answer 5

Love expresses itself in action, and expressing Love is the end I am striving for. Knowledge is necessary to know the right action to take.

Answer 6

Interesting question. With most things, knowledge is the end in itself. I don't have the ability to do most things that science has proven. With childbearing, though, I had to DO to prove the theory. :-)

Answer 7

I feel the need to "create" knowledge through research.

Answer 8

Some things are knowledge alone, others require kowledge and action, such as moral propositions.

So its a "sometimes both" for me.

Answer 9

Knowledge is a worthy goal in itself, but there are others.

Answer 10

proverb 14:15 The simple man has faith in every word, but the man of good sense gives thought to his footsteps. 14:16 The wise man, fearing, keeps himself from evil; but the foolish man goes on in his pride, with no thought of danger. 14:17 He who is quickly angry will do what is foolish, but the man of good sense will have quiet. 14:18 Foolish behaviour is the heritage of the simple, but men of good sense are crowned with knowledge. (BBE)
Bible