“To know one’s ignorance is the best part of knowledge” Lao Tse
Check out this page from the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy on the Analysis of Knowledge. What is the difference between knowledge and belief?
This is another good source on the discussion around how we acquire knowledge. You may find some of the links on the right hand menu very interesting.
“I Know” It seems like such a simple statement but what is it you know? How do you know it? How do we know, what you know, is really worth knowing or even correct? And finally do you really know? What does that knowledge do for you?
In the end we are all seekers of knowledge to one degree or another, part of that knowledge comes from understanding that we are quite frequently wrong and that being wrong helps us know. Kathryn Schulz’ book “Being Wrong: Adventures in the Margin of Error” comes highly recommended. It will challenge what you know and what you think you know. The President of Harvard University has suggested that all Harvard students, and particularly first year students would be well served by reading this book.
Except from the website and book:To err is human. Yet most of us go through life tacitly assuming (and sometimes noisily insisting) that we are right about nearly everything, from the origins of the universe to how to load the dishwasher. If being wrong is so natural, why are we all so bad at imagining that our beliefs could be mistaken – and why do we typically react to our errors with surprise, denial, defensiveness and shame?
Take a look at the ted talk by Kathryn Schulz: Being wrong – is not the same as realizing you are wrong…if you don’t realize you are wrong the emotions are entirely different from those when you realize you are wrong.
What motivates us to know more, do more, understand more…to take action based upon our beliefs and to change our beliefs? Check out these two presentations on motivation.