Trit's Boxes
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"This is what constitutes as true liberty-the joy experienced in doing what is right."
Augustine
On the Nature of Knowledge
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Many people in the modern world believe that knowledge is power. Knowledge is what gives the human race the ability to advance and progress to greater accomplishments. In fact, one of the most substantial elements of the human race that sets us apart from base animals is that we have the ability to pass on knowledge, and learn from more then simply our own experiences. We have documented and written down history for centuries, and this has enabled us to build upon the mistakes and successes of our predecessors.
It is neccessary, in order for this to occur, that we share our own experiences with others. We must pass on what we have learned in our own lives in order to give the world a better chance at improving. It is for this reason then parenting is so important. Parents have the ability to pass on knowledge of what is good and beneficial to their children, thus passing on wisdom in how to live in this world. This need to share experiences and knowledge with others is also the reason why institutions such as education are so important, and likewise why the establishment of companies such as Wikipedia are so important. We must recognize the need for shared information if we are ever going to achieve a greater world.
This reason for the need for knowledge, I believe, is not the pinacle one. Each one of us are responsible for our own actions, and we will all be held to account for them. Because of this, each one of us are responsible for discerning the best method of living, and to do this we must reflect on the past. When we take the time to study history and our forefathers, we can learn from them and discover how to best live our own lives. As we gaze into the ever-unfolding tapestry of history, we will find ourselves shaken and awed by the great goodness of certain people. It is these people that we must look to for inspiration. Likewise, when we are concerned with ruling and governing a nation, we must observe those nations that we see as virtuous and honourable, that achieved great things in this world. Through this, we may avoid the cycle of rise and fall of nations, and rather build a nation that seeks the greater good.
The greater good in this world is an illusive concept that many people in the post-modern world have rejected as impossible to achieve or even understand. However, we may know that there is a greater good when we move beyond knowledge and reason, and realize that there is something deep within us that says that something is wrong simply because it is, and likewise that something is right, simply because it is right. This reflects the law that God has written on the very foundation of this world, that states that there is a good in this world that we can try to achieve through disciplined lives that are virtuous and dedicated to God and his grace. To reject God as the greater good is to reject any type of foundation for a conscience. And, to reject the conscience is to give up the world to greed, hate, anger, and chaos. Without a conscience and a undisputable moral law, the human race has full licence to do whatever is neccessary to improve. This means that the extermination of poverty through killing, and the extermination of "dead-weight" members of the human race can be entirely justified. However, there is something within us that says that this is wrong-why? What is this built on? I contest that it is built on the moral law that God has written on each one of our hearts. It is this moral law, and the good that God has instituted that we must strive towards, and knowledge is a tool that enables us to move towards this good.
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