The Knowledge Paradox
As I mentioned in my post on X this afternoon, I wrote about this topic on X earlier this year if I’m not mistaken. I wrote it either in January or February. I feel unsatisfied even though I have stated it on that platform, it will be more relieved after I rewrite it here.
The discussion this time is about human knowledge. Knowledge is the way humans live their lives and it is with knowledge that humans can survive. We wouldn’t be able to go to school or university if we didn’t have knowledge. We can’t be proficient in a specific skill and get a decent job if we don’t have knowledge. We cannot even walk without knowing how to walk. Everything in this world is knowledge, the human task is to learn and keep learning.
The world today, or rather our earth, has experienced various eras. From the Hadaic era until we are currently in the Neozoic era. Humans continue to evolve both their physical form and their mind.
Before we get too far into history and geology, let’s get it out of the way.
Here I emphasise how humans react to the knowledge they have. In this era, the abundance of knowledge creates a gap that we often don’t understand. Gaps about why people do/use/practise something or why they don’t. The reasons are twofold, people don’t have the knowledge or even more knowledgeable. Sounds simple but we are often fooled.
First case in point:
Muslims have an obligation to pray 5 times every day. Fajr, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib and Isha. Muslims generally pray the isha prayer at 7pm, about an hour after the Maghrib. Because I used to live in an Islamic boarding school, it was customary to pray on time. I find that there was my friend didn’t join the Isha in congregation. At first I thought it might be because he was lazy or had other activities so he decided not to pray Isha on time and in congregation. But it turned out that he did it almost every day, I never found him in any row when the Isha was completed. Because I was curious, after the prayer I asked him. Who would have thought that he would immediately answer with an evidence.
He said there was a hadith narrated by Imam Ahmad, Ibn Majah, and Tirmizy that reads:
Abu Hurairah RA reported that the Rasulullah SAW said, “If I did not burden my people, I would order them to delay or postpone the Isha prayer until one third of the night or half of it.”
My friend explained that there is still a difference of opinion between the ulamas about which is the best time to pray Isha. However, there is nothing wrong with believing in something that has clear evidence. He added that the reason for choosing to pray Isha in the middle of the night is that you can also pray Tahajjud and so on.
Second:
We must be familiar with the Apple brand with its slogan Think Different. Nothing unusual at first glance, until an English expert corrected it. Grammar-wise, think which is a verb, must be modified with an adverb. For example: Come Quickly, Speak Loudly, Walk Slowly, etc. Which means the slogan Think Different should be modified with an adverb. Which means the slogan Think Different should be Think Differently.
How can a company like Apple be unaware of such a basic formula in grammar? Is it against the rules or is it philosophised that way?
As it turns out, Steve Jobs, the creator of the slogan who is also the founder of Apple Inc. confirmed that the Think Different slogan was indeed made like that consciously. Deliberately made to break the rules because it philosophises its own meaning which seeks to think differently from others.
It’s a brilliant idea. But it will look ordinary to people who don’t have that much knowledge.
There are many more examples of similar incidents. I’m sure you’ve experienced them too. Being in the middle of confusion, seeing people doing something based on knowledge? Or is it ignorant?
This dilemma is what I call a gap. Because we are each created with different abilities and knowledge.
I see my friend not praying on time, I might label him as disobedient. Or the worst possibility, someone else sees him not praying and imitates him. Not knowing that my friend is praying alone in the middle of a frigid night.
If Steve Jobs hadn’t made a statement about the slogan, people would have thought he was stupid for making a sentence that didn’t fit the grammar. Or worse, people would think there was nothing wrong with the slogan.
It turns out that what we know so far is still not enough. There are other sciences that are also good and we don’t know yet. Thus proving the existence of The Knowledge Paradox -the more we learn, the more we find out how little we know and that we need to gain additional knowledge to expand our comfort zones.
In this context, it’s also quite funny when at first you don’t do it because you’re not knowledgeable, then you do it because you’re knowledgeable, then you don’t do it because you’re more knowledgeable.
Like the two examples above:
- I didn’t pray Isha because I didn’t know it was an obligation.
- I pray Isha on time because I know it is an obligation.
- I do not pray Isha on time and prefer to do it at midnight because I know there is another sunnah.
And:
- Think Different is made with no grammar guidelines.
- Think Differently was created after following the grammar guide.
- Think Different was reused to reinforce the philosophy of breaking through the guidelines and daring to be different.
Another thing to understand is that knowledge can generally only be measured by oneself. We cannot judge people for doing something on the basis that they are knowledgeable or not. Simply because we do not know which people are knowledgeable and which are not.
The important point of this discussion is, ‘Knowledge is Liberating’. Wider horizons, more open minds, more choices in life.
Regardless, there will definitely be a moment when we can see whether someone is doing something based on knowledge or not. When that happens, it’s good to share a little knowledge with the person who purely wants to do good without pretentious intentions.
To quote Ferry Irwandi,
“As knowledge increases, our wisdom should grow. Not our ego. It’s fun to patronise people, to warn people, to prove other people’s mistakes, or other people’s lack of understanding of something. But how long will it last? No one can guarantee that we will never be in that position. Be wise.”
