Running Head: An Insight Into the Word Knowledge 1

Acumen to Knowledge

Julianna Gordon

Arizona State University

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Abstract

This is an essay of exploration on the word and concept of knowledge. The information is

based off of personal experience, first hand research, and secondhand research an exploration of

the concept and word will become more clear to those who are able to experience this work.

Keywords: Knowledge, concept, explore, inquiry.

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Acumen to Knowledge

Words can have many different meanings or interpretations, especially in the very

complex english language. The word I chose to explore is knowledge, this word is used in many

languages to symbolize an amount of thought that pertains to one person. There are many types

of knowledge, one single person can obtain more than one type within their lifetime. Knowledge

means a certain type of familiarity about a subject and can be formal or informal. We as students

come to college to get a formal education, but within our social lives and interactions we learn a

certain type of informal knowledge. There are many definitions of knowledge but the

understanding of knowledge is ever growing and is forever open for interpretation.

The use of knowledge is decided by the person or being that the knowledge is within. For

example, animals use their knowledge of trees and colors to adapt to their environment and avoid

their predators. Within the realm of humans we can use our knowledge to make more complex

decisions that may alter the fate of the earth. With any amount of knowledge comes work, any

person that has an adapt amount of knowledge to survive must work everyday in order to

understand more and more for the ability to survive and flourish. Many people see extensive

knowledge as a priority and necessity for life. To a point I agree with that statement but as a

whole it is easier to live an innocent and simple life with less knowledge than one that is

unhappily filled with the attempt to gain more knowledge than peers. It is understandable to

attempt to gain knowledge in a field in which one feels passionate about but in a sense who does

this with their own willpower.

In doing firsthand research on the topic of knowledge I interview two of my peers who

live on the same floor as myself in Taylor Place, they both have similar things to say.
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Interviewee 1’s approach to knowledge was in attempt to gain more than others, granite this

person's’ view on the world was that they already thought they had more knowledge than most

others here at Arizona state. They were in pursuit to get the most amount of knowledge possible

no matter what it would take. They mentioned that “I am willing and I am able to, so why don’t

I” which normally I would praise for a confidence and motivation this person's intentions seemed

malicious. Interviewee 2 mention that they had the idea that “knowledge means control” when

you are in a conversation and you know more you are in control socially. When in a emergency

scenario and you know what to do you are in control. When you are explaining to a class about a

topic, you are in control, everyone is listening to you and paying attention to you because they

believe that you are more powerful than they are and they are only listening to you because one

day they hope to become more powerful than you by knowing more. I had an english teacher in

high school that used to say “better writers know things about things” and in a sense his job was

to teach us more so that one day a specific few of us would gain an amount of knowledge to

surpass his and hopefully benefit mankind.

Although knowledge may not always be used for positive experience and well being.

Knowledge can have a negative effect on the lives of others.I found on Wikipedia that in the

religion of Catholicism knowledge is expressed as one of seven gifts of the Holy spirit. Many

people do not treat it as such and I personally think that it is a gift and a curse. Knowledge can be

used in many different ways and deciding if the overall effect you want to have on the world

pertains to how much knowledge you have and you personal beliefs. There are many people

known in history to have used their knowledge for positive and negative aspects. For example

Adolf Hitler had a large amount of knowledge pertaining to military strategy as well as social

manipulation which made him the man and the strong leader he was. As we reflect on the
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situation that happened in Germany so many years ago we notice that without Hitler’s his

extensive military and leadership knowledge other fields of knowledge such as science and or

ethics may not have occurred and we as a population may not be in the place we are today if not

for Hitler's overall negative effect of his county. Contrary to popular belief our lives may not

have been better if not for Hitler and his insidious approach on leadership. The world has also

been affected positively by knowledge but in my research only due to negative circumstances

that knowledge allowed in the first place. For example, finding a solution to cleaning up oil spills

only pertains because we spilled oil on our precious oceans in the first place. Knowledge about

life is ever growing and is particularly based off of personal beliefs of how life came to be.

In the book Sustainable Development (2011) the main focus is relationships, culture,

knowledge and ethics of development. I focused on the topics of knowledge and ethics within

this book. A generally summary is that knowledge has a societal role and normative qualities, it

also has a very “objective path” which determine these normative qualities and societal roles. It

also related to the scientific knowledge that can cause conflict. The themes in this book can be

related to personal, societal, national, and or worldly development. I related mostly to the

personal and societal development which in my interpretation, which lead me to believe that

knowledge and personal values should be kept separate but will not ever be due to the cultural

normality that tells our society to incorporate knowledge and personal values.

In all justice there is no right or wrong way to have knowledge, there is no right or wrong

way to exsect with your knowledge. Many people in this lifetime will attempt to limit your

knowledge and make you believe that your amount is less than theirs, but in reality there is no

way that your knowledge can be defined and only you know yourself and what pertains inside
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your brain. Although there are many methods of knowledge we can all agree that it is and will

stay infinite.
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References

Pardoi, O., Ayestaran, I., Banse, G.,(2011). Sustainable development: Relationships to Culture,

Knowledge and Ethics. KIT Scientific Publishing.