A Means Of Expansion
There is a gross injustice in that wisdom is appraised for its hand in mankind’s understanding, but ignorance is only recognized as a stifle to acquiring knowledge. Ignorance throughout time has had a negative connotation; many regard it as an unwelcome darkness. This misleading view creates an unintended bridle on those seeking wisdom, and because of an overwhelming fear of searching in the dark, the right questions that expand one’s awareness are not asked. Stuart Firestein addresses the lack of acknowledgement ignorance has received in his thought provoking work Ignornace: How It Drives Science. He suggests that searching for facts is terminating, whereas ignorance brings infinite learning-a world of endless discovery. Throughout the progression of the book, the previous notion of ignorance as a threat is redefined as a new outlook on the exploration of knowledge. The effort to cultivate ignorance through curiosity, awareness and faith in progression will not create “cold hard facts” as Firestein writes, but an expansion of understanding, progress and potential.
In an experiment I conducted with Firestein’s book, I took an inventory of topics I found significant that I knew about, and did so with topics in which I was unknowledgable. In the prior listing, I noted Shakespeare, Music, and English. The list of subjects I did not know, but felt had great value, included: French, Geography, Technology, and Politics. After reconsidering the newly defined denotation of ignorance, I found my own ignorance to be vast. I currently do not “know” Shakespeare, Music, or English as intimately as I desire; but, I have a passion to seek an understanding and continue to chase after greater comprehension of those topics, and recognize that there will always be more to learn. More importantly, the list of fields in which I am ignorant are now a list of disciplines in which I will seek to attain as much knowledge as possible. By redefining ignorance as an incitement for discovery in all aspects of my life, I am redefining the course of my education and my future.
When a printmaker initiates an art piece, he will scrape, scratch and hollow-out the printing plate in order to fabricate a picture that, when coated in ink and placed on the press, the ink, or the positive of the picture, will form an image. The unscathed parts of the plate are called the negative. The negative as well as the positive are fundamental to the picture because together they create the image. Ignorance is the negative in the art piece. It is by combining ignorance with knowledge that discovery is “painted”. Just as the artist expands the potential of his canvas by addressing the negative, mankind has a duty to expand their potential through addressing ignorance.
Ignorance must be separated from the primitive and erroneous denotative definition currently ingrained in society as a lack of education, or skill; willful illiteracy and foolishness no longer characterize the virtue of ignorance. The appropriate qualities of ignorance are infinite curiosity, constant awareness, and faith in progression. All human progress has come about by curiosity and a need to understand what is unknown, making it the catalyst of evolution into a species capable of constructing instruments that fly into space, devises that provide instant communication and many more unbelievable products. Without a need and a drive, these progressions could never come to fruition. The awareness mankind has of its ignorance has also instigated the expansion of knowledge. A humble awareness of what is still unknown helps to point mankind in the direction of what to seek. The most important characteristic to ignorance is a faith in progress. Without the belief that expansion of ignorance can produce positive innovations, mankind will not have the motivation to acquire goodness, knowledge and wisdom; thus by faith in progression mankind is able to move forward.
Although Firestein’s postulated definition of ignorance tackles the scientific field, it can be applied to all academic disciplines. He describes ignorance as a “condition of knowledge”; it leads to perception, insight and growth. As an upcoming freshmen in collegiate level studies, there is an implacable fear and curiosity of the new chapter approaching. Part of incorporating ignorance into this new life is by first understanding that the new chapter is a dark room and then utilizing that understanding as an impetus for expanding my education and potential. Often it is by approaching the unknown that the individual undertakes what is necessary to become exceptional. In my own experience, I have learned the value of not knowing. I ran in the Wasatch Ragnar this summer, and began the training for it over the school year. Many arduous, cold, early morning and grueling, hot afternoon runs proved the real struggle of training and running a ragnar; had I known the struggle would be so intense, I would not have made the choice I did; but by becoming the best I could be in ragnar, I made a positive impact on my athletic ability and perception of myself. It is that piece, the not knowing, that drives individuals to reach their full potential.
As I begin this new chapter of my life, my higher education is an unscathed canvas I will begin to explore. Many of my journeys have been tremendous experiences because of the ignorance that I had, and I hope that ignorance continues to be a compass pointing me in a positive direction. To fulfill my duty to progression, I have made a covenant with my future self to build a virtuous and well-rounded individual through ignorance and a constant pursuit to light the “dark rooms” in my life. Without ignorance, there is no progression, no change, no means of expansion. Development is what makes mankind great and why we are capable of making a difference. By making use of both my knowledge and my ignorance, I become the printmaker of my education and future.
