Knowledge Corrupts?

[Euphonas]

If knowledge gives you power and power corrupts you. Does that mean knowledge is evil?

This is a question I've been thinking about for a few weeks now. I was talking with my friend who wants to become a history teacher. He said, "Knowledge is the greatest weapon any man can have..." I started to think about what he said there. So if knowledge is power and as we all know from history power corrupts. Does that mean the more knowledge you have the more likely you are to become corrupted by it?

What are your thoughts?

[Khadgar]

How could knowledge corrupt you?

[United Marxist Nations]

Usually, when "power corrupts", that means the person realized that their ideals can't be accomplished with their current level of power.

[Valaran]

If knowledge gives you power and power corrupts you. Does that mean knowledge is evil?

This is a question I've been thinking about for a few weeks now. I was talking with my friend who wants to become a history teacher. He said, "Knowledge is the greatest weapon any man can have..." I started to think about what he said there. So if knowledge is power and as we all know from history power corrupts. Does that mean the more knowledge you have the more likely you are to become corrupted by it?

What are your thoughts?

There is a reason the Tree in Eden was the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil

But seriously though, this is radically overly simplified. Power on its own is a neutral concept, like knowledge. Its normally the various elements of humanity that go with them which corrupt.

[Uxupox]

If knowledge gives you power and power corrupts you. Does that mean knowledge is evil?

This is a question I've been thinking about for a few weeks now. I was talking with my friend who wants to become a history teacher. He said, "Knowledge is the greatest weapon any man can have..." I started to think about what he said there. So if knowledge is power and as we all know from history power corrupts. Does that mean the more knowledge you have the more likely you are to become corrupted by it?

What are your thoughts?

It doesn't make me evil but it did make me a cynic and a follower of William James. It also helps me on my TLP's and great rewards/great risks dilema.

[Eyes that do not Lie]

Knowledge is, firstly, not evil because having knowledge doesn't imply having power. Power is more easily obtained when you're knowledgeable, but it's not an inevitable consequence of knowledge. You don't "become corrupted by it [power]". You choose to.
Secondly, something isn't evil solely because you can be corrupted by a thing that you get as a result of aforementioned something. Knowledge can be the greatest weapon if you use it that way, yes. But knowledge in itself is definitely not evil.

[Mefpan]

If knowledge corrupts, then purity is overrated.

[Euphonas]

How could knowledge corrupt you?

Knowledge can corrupt you in many ways. One way is it makes you see more of what's happening in the world. There are good things that happen in the world. But humans tend to look more at the bad then good. When you see and know some much about the evil in the world. But you can't do anything about it. It begins to change your prospective. And it can or will corrupt you.

[Khadgar]

How could knowledge corrupt you?

Knowledge can corrupt you in many ways. One way is it makes you see more of what's happening in the world. There are good things that happen in the world. But humans tend to look more at the bad then good. When you see and know some much about the evil in the world. But you can't do anything about it. It begins to change your prospective. And it can or will corrupt you.

Assuming your premise is correct (it isn't), you should find that uneducated people are more moral than educated people. I think you'll find that there's no correlation.

[The Grene Knyght]

If knowledge gives you power and power corrupts you. Does that mean knowledge is evil?

This is a question I've been thinking about for a few weeks now. I was talking with my friend who wants to become a history teacher. He said, "Knowledge is the greatest weapon any man can have..." I started to think about what he said there. So if knowledge is power and as we all know from history power corrupts. Does that mean the more knowledge you have the more likely you are to become corrupted by it?

What are your thoughts?

Your argument is based on expressions, not facts. These are meant to be taken literally.

[Ashmoria]

If knowledge gives you power and power corrupts you. Does that mean knowledge is evil?

This is a question I've been thinking about for a few weeks now. I was talking with my friend who wants to become a history teacher. He said, "Knowledge is the greatest weapon any man can have..." I started to think about what he said there. So if knowledge is power and as we all know from history power corrupts. Does that mean the more knowledge you have the more likely you are to become corrupted by it?

What are your thoughts?

my thought is that knowledge gives you the power to not be tricked by influential others.

and that the only way that it is evil is in the eyes of those who would keep you ignorant, docile and obedient.

[Euphonas]

Assuming your premise is correct (it isn't), you should find that uneducated people are more moral than educated people. I think you'll find that there's no correlation.

If Knowledge is Power, Does it Corrupt?

[Dushan]

The knowledge about certain cosmic Powers and the true Nature of the Universe and the Cosmic Truth can be corrupting.

However, most common People are unable even to grasp or understand those things and if they would see they would dismiss it as it it's too shocking and irritating. Man prefers to believe in a caring Universe, as he prefers to believe in a harsh but ultimatively mercyful God.

Those who are not strong enough might be corrupted and destroyed, those who are choosen to take it only gain strengh at a Price.

Make of that what you desire.

The question however you'd have to ask yourself if you'd ever managed get Power, how did you wield it. Did it made you thirsty for more Power? Did you felt more relaxed without Power? Or had you a warm blissfull relaxing feeling as you were wielding said Power?

This might be the question you may want to ask to get the answer you'd seek.

[MERIZoC]

Maybe we shouldnt apply fucking figures of speech with the same consistency as a geometric theorem.

[Khadgar]

Assuming your premise is correct (it isn't), you should find that uneducated people are more moral than educated people. I think you'll find that there's no correlation.

If Knowledge is Power, Does it Corrupt?

Yay a blog. I'm not sure what it's meant to provide evidence for, but its definitely a blog.

[Atomic Utopia]

Power, I do not think, corrupts, but rather reveals previously present corruption. It allows people to act out in line with their desires, and should those desires be corrupt they will act in a corrupt manner.

And knowledge, by itself at least, is not power. Rather it is a path to power, a component of it. What matters with regards to power is what you do with the knowledge you have, not particularly that you simply have knowledge.

[Godular]

If knowledge gives you power and power corrupts you. Does that mean knowledge is evil?

This is a question I've been thinking about for a few weeks now. I was talking with my friend who wants to become a history teacher. He said, "Knowledge is the greatest weapon any man can have..." I started to think about what he said there. So if knowledge is power and as we all know from history power corrupts. Does that mean the more knowledge you have the more likely you are to become corrupted by it?

What are your thoughts?

A more apt phrase is "With great power comes great responsibility."

With great knowledge comes great responsibility? Well, you ARE expected to know what you are doing...

[Imperium Sidhicum]

Knowledge itself cannot be evil, it just is.

Say, for example, anatomical knowledge, which can be used both to cure and to torture people. Neither use makes that knowledge evil in itself, much like guns cannot be evil, being simply tools designed for a purpose (to kill). Only intents behind the use of tools or knowledge can have a moral value.

Likewise, power is also without moral value - it is simply the capability to get something done. Again, it is the intentions behind it's use that have a moral value, not power itself. Think of power as simply another tool, if an abstract one.

---

There is also an issue with the phrase "knowledge is power". A much better word would be "information", which is not the same thing as knowledge (as in "scientific knowledge" or "spiritual knowledge"). Simply knowing something does not endow you with power - rather, information on where, when and how to use that knowledge does.

[Internationalist Bastard]

If the power is your's and power corrupts, does that make you corrupt?

[Caracasus]

I think the "power corrupts" saying has more to do with vast power concentrated in the hands of the few. So I guess that with knowledge, if a vast amount was accessible only to a few it'd be a corrupting influence?

[FutureAmerica]

Knowledge for the few corrupts for sure. Knowledge for the masses reduce corruption.

[Risottia]

If knowledge gives you power and power corrupts you. Does that mean knowledge is evil?

Yes.

And I'm quite knowledgeable.

Didn't need being corrupted any further, tho.

MWAHAHAHAHAHAH!

[Yymea]

It depends on what that knowledge is, and how it is used, but usually, no, quite the opposite.

[Alvecia]

As with all things. It depends.

[Pope Joan]

At my college, they say there is a progression.

Starting with ignorance, seek information.

Starting with information, seek knowledge. Yes, there is a distinction with a difference.

Starting with knowledge, seek wisdom.

History is filled with examples of people who had a great deal of knowledge and yet were fools. Donald Rumsfeld comes to mind.

Clifford Stoll among others have reiterated this maxim.