Fruit Of The Tree Of Knowledge

[Simple Guy]

The advancement of knowledge is a noble pursuit. However, does anyone
want to make a defense of the statement: "Ignorance is bliss."?
(Relevancy checked; this isn't a philosophy forum.)

[Terry (existing)]

The advancement of knowledge is a noble pursuit. However, does anyone
want to make a defense of the statement: "Ignorance is bliss."?
(Relevancy checked; this isn't a philosophy forum.)I think that could well be a question posed at a job interview, except that I would quote it in full, since the short version has no value or merit. "Were ignorance if bliss, it is folly to be wise", is the full quote, and if I were hiring for a boring and repetitive job, I would hire those who supported the statement, with one exception, and that one would be put in charge....I would expect that the person in charge would eventually come up with a better and less boring way to do the job, most likely using a machine to do it. If I hired the ones who disagreed with the statement, I would be expecting a high rate of resignations after a week or so, and having to retrain regularly...... So,,,,,in a sense I defend it, yet at the same time disagree with it. It is nescessary to have people who will be satisfied with the boring jobs as well as those who look to better ways to overcome bordom......

[Unregistered]

The advancement of knowledge is a noble pursuit. However, does anyone
want to make a defense of the statement: "Ignorance is bliss."?
(Relevancy checked; this isn't a philosophy forum.)
This looks interesting...

Ignorance is indeed bliss, but may be short-lived. Consider the individual homo sapiens unaware of the danger posed by a marauding sabretooth tiger when approaching it for a big furry cuddle. We can postulate then that ignorance is also counter to our general survival.

The granularity of this statement is too coarse, of course (ah, Mr Erickson, how I miss you). I am one, for instance, who is quite prepared to remain ignorant of how prestidigitation works, prefering instead to retain the "magic" of a card trick when I know I can easily work them out from first principles. Some ignorance is safely bliss, then, while other forms of ignorance ois dangerous. Perhaps ignorance is a continuous sliding scale between mortal danger and joy.

So, we can answer the question "is ignorance bliss" with the reply "it depends on the context".

Will that do?

[AnthonyM83]

Perhaps ignorance IS bliss, but as humans we have a strong sense of curiousity and it would be too boring not wanting to know more, despite the tumultuous ride it might take us on (which we might actually enjoy - the variation in stimuli: ups, downs, new sensations). Bliss might just be too boring for us.

I also agree with the last poster. "It depends on context" is a good answer.

[skip]

Simple,

Is ignorance bliss?

I would say that depends on context and duration.

If ignorance is permenant, then it is imaterial if it is bliss or curse, it is at once both.

If ignorance is temporary, or context dependant, then it can be bliss, depending on your opinion of the impact of the ignorance with respect to your desires.

I suspect that the ignorance is bliss applies most aptly to those who think they know, when it is better to know, that they dont know. At least they are ignorant of their ignorance.

skip

[Jack]

SG,

Ignorance is bliss, but liquor is quicker.(apologies).

Jack

[Unregistered]

Ignorance is the biscuit, bliss the gravy.

[kate]

My Father is quite a long way below the average I Q level, and after seeing him pull through a burst anurisum, heart attack and failure of all major organs, i would say that ignorance is definately bliss. If he understood what had happened to him, i dont think he would be able to live the normal life that he dose, he would worry himself sick if he knew and understood his condition.

[Unregistered]

if i was dying i wouldnt want to know. i once heard a word of advice from a witch doctor , "never point the finger of death", never say that someone is going to die!

[Unregistered]

if i was dying i wouldnt want to know. i once heard a word of advice from a witch doctor , "never point the finger of death", never say that someone is going to die!
We all die. Wouldn't you rather be there to experience this once in a lifetime trip? I would, and I'm sure there are many reading this who'd wish me dead so I can try!

[Merlin]

I've been called a witch (more often with the alternate spelling though ;-)
I've been called a doctor (and worse)
I've been called a witch doctor
But my only advice about pointing is that it's not polite :P

[Don]

Guest, why do you assume that it's a once in a lifetime experience? While it is for most, some of us come back...

[Simple Guy]

Thanks for the replies. How about a rephrase of the original question, in terms of the merits of "knowing thy self," i.e. in regards to greater conscious awareness of your own subconscious motivations and drives?

[skip]

Could that be easily misconstrued to mean know your limits and stick to them?

[Terry (existing)]

Know they limits might apply, especially when it comes to drinking and driving this New Years Eve, so please be carefull, and come back next year, yall hear now?

[Simple Guy]

Skip,

It could be "easily misconstrued to mean know your limits and stick to them."
Such cognition is for much of psychotherapy, philosophy and ego valuation a
highly regarded thing. But it is overrated, certainly when it allows people to
define themselves in terms of existing limitations, rather than serving as a
springboard for overcoming those limits.

[Simple Guy]

Not recognizing unconscious biases within ourselves is also a limitation,
certainly in terms of intellectual honesty. I believe that Freud himself,
failed to achieve great heights with this, though he advocated it.
In "Modern Hypnosis Theory and Practice," by Masud Ansari, Ph.D.,
the author states: "Freud eventually came to believe that consciously
uncovering the psychological causes of mental disorders (catharsis)
was more helpful than unconsciously doing so and in his autobiography
wrote: 'Psychoanalysis only began with my rejection of the hypnotic
technique.' However, Freud did not discredit the validity of hypnosis
as an effective means of psychology."

Certainly Freud's desire to advance his own theory and standing,
had to cloud his objectivity to considering in greater depth the
utility of hypnosis. Those that have read his correspondence with
Jung (now published) clearly see Freud's value of positioning himself
as the authority in psychoanalysis. Were Freud to have been a
more strident proponent of hypnosis, it likely would have been at
the expense of his psyconanalytic movement and his reputation
might very well not have become what it did. So, Freud had secondary
gain to proceed as he did. Where would hypnosis be today, if he
had the conscious awareness of his own bias? And of course,
where would we be with greater consciousness of our own subconscious
motivations and disinclinations?