Thread: Ignorance vs Intelligence

Here is my view on this matter. Feel free to discuss your viewpoint on it and which you think is better or which quality you think should be practiced by those around you as well as by your own self.Anyways here's my opinion. There are extreme differences between ignorance and intelligence. When a person ignores, is oblivious to, or lacks the neccessary knowledge to understand a given idea, situation, or concept they are presented with, that can be classified as being ignorant. They tend not to think about matters but more or less involve themselves in things. This can be damaging. For instance if they are unaware of all the legalities associated with Real Estate when purchasing a house, they can end up digging themselves a financial grave. An intelligent person would utilize their knowledge and ask questions pertaining to Real Estate of various companies and individuals before they even consider the purchase of a house. But ignorance is not always a negative attribute for a person to have or maintain. If you remain ignorant to certain area's of life it can actually benefit you instead of being a liability to your well-being. A person who is intelligent knows how to think in a way that is based in reason and rationalization. They often are the ones who conceive innovative ideas that people consider genius. However there are certain fallibilities associated with having such a high intellect. Those who are adept in this area tend to think too much. Most times this is good and they are blessed with knowledge some would consider unattainable. But sometimes this way of thinking causes one to try and understand or analyze a certain idea that is better left taken as fact and should not be dwelt upon for too long. Death and all that it entails is something that cannot be fully understood without having been experienced. Thinking about what happens after we die is a concept that should not be pondered excessively. Intelligence can lead to depression, unless you are secure with your existence, it's frailty, and it's brevity, when exploring this area of thought. Maintaining ignorance when presented with this idea is often times better than trying to rationalize the effects and repercussions of death. You don't have to undergo the constant battles with ideas that intellignet people face, however you'll never be able to form your own opinion on the matter. You'll always end up accepting what another human has said as truth. But you won't have to deal with all the bullshit of thinking about what happens when this happens?, "what is this for, why is this like this?;why isn't it more like this? who created this?....etc. Pretty much all I've gathered from my own views and perceptions on this matter is that Ignorance can be bliss but also damaging. Intelligence can be helpful but a lot more damaging than ignorance in certain cases. It can dissolve and disillusion your former beliefs. It can break you if you're not careful. I'm not saying maintaining a high level of intellect is a bad thing and I'm definitely not saying ignorance is better. I'm simply stating that both can be harmful. All in all, I think we must utilize both but in both areas moderation is the key word. Anyways, what do you guys think? Of course, I fully understand if you don't want to post or lack your own opinion. I've seen how people are manipulated and know how someone can let themselves be led to actions they otherwise would not approve of. I should have just put this in the Ranting and Raving Forum cause apparently I'm the only one who has a unique perception and viewpoint(or at least one that I don't feel stupid or embarrassed expressing) on this issue. Let me say this: Am I surrounded by cretins?!

I barely read any of that mess, but I don't feel that anyone should be protected from the truth behind a veil of ignorance; doing so would cause more damage than the contrary. Although there are detrimental effects of intelligence, such as losing the ability to grin like a fool in the face of the transience of life by saying, "Well, there's a heaven," they pale in comparison to the benefits.

Our decisions are established upon our fundamental principles and laws; if those are flawed due to ignorance, that will lead to incorrect propagations based upon those faulty assumptions. For the world to function properly, especially in a democratic sense, it would be preferable if everyone knew the consequences which a particular choice would entail. It's generally a bad idea to spring from a rotten foundation; if you draw conclusions based on erroneous claims, they will most likely be similarly invalid.

The answer to your questions depends on whose point of view you are examining it from. May a particular individual derive happiness or some other form of gain from the bliss that accompanies ignorance? In some cases, certainly. Can the world benefit from individuals in such a state? Most assuredly not. In essence, ignorance is a selfish condition which helps the ignorant person, but hurts everyone else.

A fool acts out of ignorance - he does not know enough to seek advice, nor have the common sense to take it when given to him. An intelligent person can sometimes act foolishly by mistake - indeed, some of the smartest people do the most stupid things! - but their mistakes are generally errors of omission rather than judgment. The wise are not immune to error, but they rarely are mistaken in their judgment; and, therefore, not often taken for fools.

Interesting perception both of you. Anyone else going to reply? :whistling:

In some cases, i would prefure ignorance. I for example I am a doctor, and am having a baby. I know the chances of all the things that could go wrong, and as such will worry more than someone that knows nothing about the complications of pregnancy.

Of course, there are other times where intelligence and knowlege is better. but overal, i would prefure to be ignorant, because it is, as they say, bliss. And i can fully understand that.

Comrade

I think that the opposite of ignorance is not intelligence. It's knowledge.

For example, I consider myself to be of at least average intelligence (others here will argue that, but lets assume it for the sake of the discussion). However I have no knowledge of Spanish. No knowledge of real estate. No knowledge of Baroque architecture... I am ignorent of these subjects, but I'm not ignorent. I just have not applied my intelligence to these topics.

Everyone has the capacity to learn... thry just don't.

It has been said that a merely well-informed man is a useless bore; which is true for to acquire knowledge for its sake alone is both useless and a bore. Indeed, to fill one’s mind with meaningless facts is to be a blockhead. Knowledge is power for those who know how to use it; but it has also been said that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, for it is easily misapplied. Wisdom, however, is knowledge applied to one’s benefit. The wise know how to apply knowledge to attain their ends and to good purpose. That is the benefit of knowledge and wisdom.

I think knowledge is learned from gathering information. But wisdom is learned from experience. A wise man may not necessarily be knowledgable, and a knowledgable man may not necessarily be wise.

Wisdom is not communicable. No one can teach you to be wise.

Originally Posted by Ronald

Here is my view on this matter. Feel free to discuss your viewpoint on it and which you think is better or which quality you think should be practiced by those around you as well as by your own self.Anyways here's my opinion. There are extreme differences between ignorance and intelligence. When a person ignores, is oblivious to, or lacks the neccessary knowledge to understand a given idea, situation, or concept they are presented with, that can be classified as being ignorant. They tend not to think about matters but more or less involve themselves in things. This can be damaging. For instance if they are unaware of all the legalities associated with Real Estate when purchasing a house, they can end up digging themselves a financial grave. An intelligent person would utilize their knowledge and ask questions pertaining to Real Estate of various companies and individuals before they even consider the purchase of a house. But ignorance is not always a negative attribute for a person to have or maintain. If you remain ignorant to certain area's of life it can actually benefit you instead of being a liability to your well-being. A person who is intelligent knows how to think in a way that is based in reason and rationalization. They often are the ones who conceive innovative ideas that people consider genius. However there are certain fallibilities associated with having such a high intellect. Those who are adept in this area tend to think too much. Most times this is good and they are blessed with knowledge some would consider unattainable. But sometimes this way of thinking causes one to try and understand or analyze a certain idea that is better left taken as fact and should not be dwelt upon for too long. Death and all that it entails is something that cannot be fully understood without having been experienced. Thinking about what happens after we die is a concept that should not be pondered excessively. Intelligence can lead to depression, unless you are secure with your existence, it's frailty, and it's brevity, when exploring this area of thought. Maintaining ignorance when presented with this idea is often times better than trying to rationalize the effects and repercussions of death. You don't have to undergo the constant battles with ideas that intellignet people face, however you'll never be able to form your own opinion on the matter. You'll always end up accepting what another human has said as truth. But you won't have to deal with all the bullshit of thinking about what happens when this happens?, "what is this for, why is this like this?;why isn't it more like this? who created this?....etc. Pretty much all I've gathered from my own views and perceptions on this matter is that Ignorance can be bliss but also damaging. Intelligence can be helpful but a lot more damaging than ignorance in certain cases. It can dissolve and disillusion your former beliefs. It can break you if you're not careful. I'm not saying maintaining a high level of intellect is a bad thing and I'm definitely not saying ignorance is better. I'm simply stating that both can be harmful. All in all, I think we must utilize both but in both areas moderation is the key word. Anyways, what do you guys think? Of course, I fully understand if you don't want to post or lack your own opinion. I've seen how people are manipulated and know how someone can let themselves be led to actions they otherwise would not approve of. I should have just put this in the Ranting and Raving Forum cause apparently I'm the only one who has a unique perception and viewpoint(or at least one that I don't feel stupid or embarrassed expressing) on this issue. Let me say this: Am I surrounded by cretins?!

For your information, ignorance is not due to the purposeful evasion of knowledge as your post suggests. An intelligent person may remain rational and ignorant on several key issues. To be ignorant is not to not know. It is to ignore information for your own purpose, whatever it is.

But then, the world is made of the smart and the stupid. Just because you start off or end up at one side of things does not mean you can't transition to another.