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We retell the landmark essay of the famous science fiction writer Isaac Asimov, who did not like at all how humanity relates to knowledge.
We are constantly told that we have a right to know. But what to know, excuse me? Science? Mathematics? The economy? Foreign languages? None of the above, of course. It can even be assumed that we feel much more comfortable without all this, because we have a cult of ignorance. He has been with us since the founding of this country.
Like a virus strain, ignorance permeates all corners of political and cultural life, fueled by false claims of the equality of knowledge and ignorance. People often say, "My ignorance is no worse than your knowledge." By the way, since we're talking about politics. Politicians at all times try to speak as illiterately as possible, so as not to offend the public with a high syllable. Politicians have invented a popular and simple language for themselves, which allows them to pass for their own. Nobody likes smart guys, right? Voters should not be allowed to feel hurt because of their ignorance.
There are people who speak in strange words, constantly adjust their glasses and look down at everyone. We even have a special buzzword for such people - the intelligentsia. The intellectuals are now treated with disdain. This is quite paradoxical, since those who do not belong to the intellectual elite vaguely imagine not only the type of activity of the intelligentsia, but are unlikely to write this word correctly. Society refuses to recognize the importance of the knowledge held by the intelligentsia. It is important for the society to know only the news. Crime reports, litigation, corruption showdowns, debates, protests, reporting ... People don't like feeling stupid, even if they are. They are ready to consume all this surrogate "knowledge", just not to feel their stupidity.
We really have a right to know. This is a completely natural desire. In order not to injure ourselves, we can not plunge into the area of knowledge of this intelligentsia, we do not need it. In everyday life, we need a simple answer to a simple question: "What's going on?" It's great. But the question arises: how should society find out all this information?
Society answers: and for this we need a free press, freedom of speech and information, no censorship, and further down the list. Let the free media shout the truth to us, let them tell us what's going on. These professionals will open our eyes and make us see the world without the dullness of ignorance. Then we may get the feeling that we are aware of everything.
Of course it will all work. If society can read. And reading is the most intellectual occupation. Take a look around - do you see many of your fellow citizens who are able to read more than a thousand words? What if these words consist of more than three syllables? The most we can do is read a bright headline. And why do we need this vaunted freedom of speech then?
What to do? We might ask the question: is ignorance as beautiful as it seemed before? I believe that every person with intelligence can be very intelligent. I believe that we must respect people who spread knowledge. The very intellectuals whom we do not love should become our new heroes. Knowledge is a universal and eternal value.
We will all be able to become members of the intellectual elite, and then the slogan “we have the right to know” can really acquire meaning, and with it any democratic concept. The ability to think freely is achieved with great effort. So isn't it better for us to suffer a little and understand the world around us than to remain in blissful ignorance and be proud of it?
Science fiction writer Isaac Asimov's essay "The Cult of Ignorance" was published in the American magazine Newsweek on January 21, 1980. Azimov wrote about the United States, condemning a society that does not strive for knowledge.
In his books, Isaac Asimov wrote about smart and active people. His heroes changed the course of history for entire times and galaxies. Azimov extolled science. He believed that she could change the world for the better. He fantasized about people who would live thousands of years away from us.
37 years have passed since the publication of this essay, but we should think about the relevance of the words of the writer. Look at yourself, around and draw conclusions.
We are constantly told that we have a right to know. But what to know, excuse me? Science? Mathematics? The economy? Foreign languages? None of the above, of course. It can even be assumed that we feel much more comfortable without all this, because we have a cult of ignorance. He has been with us since the founding of this country.
Like a virus strain, ignorance permeates all corners of political and cultural life, fueled by false claims of the equality of knowledge and ignorance. People often say, "My ignorance is no worse than your knowledge." By the way, since we're talking about politics. Politicians at all times try to speak as illiterately as possible, so as not to offend the public with a high syllable. Politicians have invented a popular and simple language for themselves, which allows them to pass for their own. Nobody likes smart guys, right? Voters should not be allowed to feel hurt because of their ignorance.
There are people who speak in strange words, constantly adjust their glasses and look down at everyone. We even have a special buzzword for such people - the intelligentsia. The intellectuals are now treated with disdain. This is quite paradoxical, since those who do not belong to the intellectual elite vaguely imagine not only the type of activity of the intelligentsia, but are unlikely to write this word correctly. Society refuses to recognize the importance of the knowledge held by the intelligentsia. It is important for the society to know only the news. Crime reports, litigation, corruption showdowns, debates, protests, reporting ... People don't like feeling stupid, even if they are. They are ready to consume all this surrogate "knowledge", just not to feel their stupidity.
We really have a right to know. This is a completely natural desire. In order not to injure ourselves, we can not plunge into the area of knowledge of this intelligentsia, we do not need it. In everyday life, we need a simple answer to a simple question: "What's going on?" It's great. But the question arises: how should society find out all this information?
Society answers: and for this we need a free press, freedom of speech and information, no censorship, and further down the list. Let the free media shout the truth to us, let them tell us what's going on. These professionals will open our eyes and make us see the world without the dullness of ignorance. Then we may get the feeling that we are aware of everything.
Of course it will all work. If society can read. And reading is the most intellectual occupation. Take a look around - do you see many of your fellow citizens who are able to read more than a thousand words? What if these words consist of more than three syllables? The most we can do is read a bright headline. And why do we need this vaunted freedom of speech then?
What to do? We might ask the question: is ignorance as beautiful as it seemed before? I believe that every person with intelligence can be very intelligent. I believe that we must respect people who spread knowledge. The very intellectuals whom we do not love should become our new heroes. Knowledge is a universal and eternal value.
We will all be able to become members of the intellectual elite, and then the slogan “we have the right to know” can really acquire meaning, and with it any democratic concept. The ability to think freely is achieved with great effort. So isn't it better for us to suffer a little and understand the world around us than to remain in blissful ignorance and be proud of it?
Science fiction writer Isaac Asimov's essay "The Cult of Ignorance" was published in the American magazine Newsweek on January 21, 1980. Azimov wrote about the United States, condemning a society that does not strive for knowledge.
In his books, Isaac Asimov wrote about smart and active people. His heroes changed the course of history for entire times and galaxies. Azimov extolled science. He believed that she could change the world for the better. He fantasized about people who would live thousands of years away from us.
37 years have passed since the publication of this essay, but we should think about the relevance of the words of the writer. Look at yourself, around and draw conclusions.
