Comments
PyrrhoTheSkeptic t1_iut60rv wrote
>If we all had a mastery of every known skill, an encyclopedic knowledge of all of history, generations of life experience from all corners of the globe, and a complete understanding of all known sciences, then would we not naturally strive for a just, equitable, and sustainable world for all living things? Would we have boundless empathy, compassion, and wisdom?
No. Empathy is a feeling, not knowledge. People often use the terms "psychopath" or "sociopath" to describe people who lack empathy, though I believe the expression used in psychology today is "antisocial personality disorder." But regardless of what one calls it, a lack of empathy isn't a lack of knowledge.
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David Hume expressed this rather well with his famous statement:
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>'Tis not contrary to reason to prefer the destruction of the whole world to the scratching of my finger.
https://davidhume.org/texts/t/full
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For his reasoning on that, one would want to read the material preceding that quote.
Super-Ocean t1_iutkq4p wrote
Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. Empathy and knowledge aren’t mutually exclusive. If you were able to download someone (everyone) else’s experiences and gain the understanding of what their life is like it follows that you would be able understand and share their feelings.
Bozobot t1_iuu0dz5 wrote
How does knowing imply caring?
Super-Ocean t1_iuucr4u wrote
That isn’t really what I’m saying. Shared experience isn’t an equation, but is does tend to be pretty central to social groups. And social groups tend to bond and form mutually beneficial relationships. If we were all able to share in each other’s experiences then It isn’t a stretch to think it would make each of our individual lives more relatable to each other.
The author uses the example of a person’s racism being diminished by learning/downloading Kung Fu. It isn’t a perfect example, but it does illustrate how someone’s bias could be altered through learning a new skill. And if that process of learning were as accessible as the internet and as immediate as a download then it seems that our ability to relate to each other would increase exponentially.
strawhat t1_iuvkan4 wrote
I see the point you're making and also wish I could live in that world. Greater knowledge certainly enables greater empathy. A shit person may very well remain a shit person, but it's hard to see that being the case when the "horse-blinders" of ignorance are taken off. It's also easier to see why win-win scenarios are far superior to win-lose, and how everything in life is relative when you level up your perspective and understanding of how everything is interconnected.
Unlucky-Ad-9021 t1_iuxytd6 wrote
Well I think we shouldn't disregarded the fact that inducing oneself in know-how knowledge by some advanced tech would also put into question rather that itself is knowledge. Epistemic theories such as justified true belief try to refine the definition of knowledge by giving it certain necessary criteria. However, as we all come to learn, every epistemic theory has its own flaws but so does the presupposition of knowledge given in argument as such. There is this one guest professor coming to our uni to talk about a new criteria for justified true belief for knowledge, and thats autonomy. The crux of his thesis tries to put into perspective how autonomy serves a specific purpose as a criteria for gaining knowledge, therefore he is opposing the idea that if we were able to transfer empirical knowledge into our brains it wouldn't actually count as knowledge due to the lack of autonomy. Its still unsure as of how he himself comes to define autonomy into his theory but once he visits I'll let you know.
DrakBalek t1_iurlre0 wrote
If I remember correctly, didn't Neo get beat by Morpheus at first? Doesn't this imply that "knowledge insertion" only goes so far in terms of application and personal experience?
Based on my own lived experiences, yes, I would use technology to "insert" information into my brain; but I would also take the time to apply that knowledge through practical exercises, in order to learn from personal experience and thereby to expand and hone my skills.
I think, however, that this article is hinting at something deeper: how do we quantify and qualify "knowledge?" Because the author is correct, we can learn valuable lessons by having a relationship with our instructors; and if we eliminate that relationship, how do we make up that lost knowledge? They seem to suggest that, if we can insert knowledge of kung fu into a person's head, then we can (theoretically) insert the knowledge of (for example) restraint; that is, we can implant the wisdom to know when (and when not) to use our kung fu skills.
But this would require a much deeper understanding of what it means to learn something; how to identify the sources of our knowledge; and how to synthesize those disparate pieces of information into a cohesive whole (which will be accepted by a person's mind).
roadflipping t1_iuzvwqu wrote
Other interesting cinematographic references to the issue.
Jurassic Park -> scientists stood up on geniuses' shoulders so they didn't develop the appropriate discipline.
Avatar -> they had some sort of biological collective memory bank. They couldn't really consult it I think, but it seemed to enable an intelligence of its own.
[deleted] t1_iusqs5s wrote
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iiioiia t1_iuw6vds wrote
How did this knowledge (some of it of the future) get into your head?
Super-Ocean t1_iurx6u6 wrote
It makes me wonder.
If we all had a mastery of every known skill, an encyclopedic knowledge of all of history, generations of life experience from all corners of the globe, and a complete understanding of all known sciences, then would we not naturally strive for a just, equitable, and sustainable world for all living things? Would we have boundless empathy, compassion, and wisdom? Would predation and exploitation become history and collaborative competition become the norm? Would we overcome illness, aging, and death? Would we flourish and spread across the cosmos, perhaps discover others like us elsewhere?
I like to think we would and wish that I lived in a time where this was even a possibility.