In search of knowledge

         Recently, some studies have revealed that children and young people are losing the ability to acquire knowledge on their own, compared to their parents. This contrast may be due to the rise of AI. What was difficult in the recent past, such as searching for information in libraries, has become much easier now that information is available online.
        It is ironic to say that the technology has reached an impressive level in advancing knowledge, while at the same time, it has gradually turned from an ally into an enemy. Nowadays, some people feel lost if they don’t receive real-time updates. As a result, they may feel at a disadvantage compared to others.
         This behaviour undervalues the most important kind of knowledge: self-knowledge, regardless of the benefits that gadgets offer us. There is an intermediate generation, around sixty years old, that has experienced both the analogue and digital worlds. Despite the current state of technology, some people still resist placing their daily lives in the hands of electronic devices.
       Amid this technological storm, we can observe a kind of superficial knowledge spreading through WhatsApp messages, shared by so-called “experts” in everything, who rely on arguments based on dubious studies. The surprising thing is that these “experts” feel no shame when they are challenged; they simply respond with a wry, dismissive smile. Nevertheless, this behaviour reveals a lack of critical thinking.
         No one likes being challenged or acknowledging their mistakes – the first step toward self-knowledge.
       Instead of trying to know everything, it would be to understand ourselves and recognise our limits, while pursuing our goals and maintaining control over our bodies and minds as much as possible. This awareness is essential for acquiring knowledge and opening our minds to the world.
        Those who dislike being challenged open the door to prejudice and a lack of ethics toward others. Consequently, they abandon empathy, the most important bond that connects all beings.
       If we do not renew our way of thinking, we cannot renew our ideas, and effectively close the door to knowledge. In their defence, some people use offensive language to attack others’ opinions, yet they fail to understand themselves.
     Self-knowledge involves what we think and searching for the best thinkers and reliable sources of information. This approach forms the foundation of a self-knowledge that is constantly renewed, strengthening both the world and ourselves.

Photo from: Foto de detait na Unsplash

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