Universal Truths: “If Knowledge Can Create Problems, It Is Not Through Ignorance That We Can Solve Them.”
Through one of his profound quotes: “If knowledge can create problems, it is not through ignorance that we can solve them”, Isaac Asimov shows his perception for knowledge and ignorance as well as to what they lead. Based on his thought, the expansion of knowledge leads to expansion of problems while ignorance responds to smaller number of troubles and struggles. More knowledge causes more uncertainties and harder life whereas ignorance simplifies people’s way of living to such extent that there is no meaning in their existence. Knowledge is the reflection of the things as they are, independently of our own subjective expectations and desires. Knowledge is the Reality, but, still, it may develop. .According to Asimov, the more we know, the more we understand that what we still don’t know is more than what we already know. As better we get to know the world around us, we see its complicity and profundity. With the expansion of our knowledge our horizon extends as well. Thus, the boundary with the Unknown becomes bigger and since the Unknown contains only problems and uncertainties, one has more contact with them. Also, knowledge may be uses in order truth to be defined. Since the ways of achieving truth are not perfect, this leads to a lot of uncertainties which create problems. Thus, the cycle is completed and reiterated- bigger knowledge would always lead to more problems. Ignorance, however, would not lead to problems. As less knowledge one has, he struggles with fewer problems. If he is lost in ignorance, he will not be able even to differentiate problems in his life. The boundary with the Unknown will be so small that the problems he might eventually has will be simpler and easily to be solved. Also, ignorant people can’t solve the problems of knowledgeable ones, moreover, they don’t even have such troubles. Actually, if the ignorance is complete, there would be no problems at all because one would not have enough knowledge to see a problem in something. An
Cited: "Socrates."Worldofquotes.com.13Jan.2008<http://www.worldofquotes.com/author/Socrates/1/index.html>.