Opinion: Knowledge is power, and there’s never been so much available
We live in an age of unfettered access to information. In previous generations, quality education was reserved only for the most elite members of society. If you wanted to engage in pressing political and philosophical questions, you had to travel to an intellectual hub, like Berlin during the 1800s – if you were privileged to have received enough education to even engage with such crowds.
In a lecture about war, power and strategy at Microsoft Research, Robert Greene, author of The 48 Laws of Power, pointed out that, in the past, information about power and strategy was hoarded by elites because of its incredible value. It was impossible for the average person to access. Now, with a simple Google search, we can learn as much as we want about these subjects. The Art of War, a book which many leaders of yesterday considered to be the definitive guide on warfare strategy, is now available for free public access on Project Gutenberg.
The Internet has revolutionized the information economy. We can essentially learn about whatever we want, whether it be philosophy, music, psychology or finance. The cost to become educated, in a soft sense, has never been so low.
Not only would it be a tragedy to not utilize this incredible privilege we have been permitted, but there might be no excuse not to take full advantage of it.
In the past, incompetency was justifiable because of unequal information distribution. How could you expect a peasant to learn how to strategize and understand power dynamics when the only written knowledge of the subject was locked away in an ivory tower? But this argument has been rendered invalid by technological advancements.
Consider the aforementioned example of power. Power is an unavoidable part of life. It is the tool that converts our desires, and our will, into reality. We are all subject to those with power and possess varying levels of power in our own lives.
For the peasant, it was not his choice to forgo knowledge of power because he could not learn about it formally. But, today, it is clearly and definitively a choice. It is a choice that will have consequences, because our ability to gain and manage power is the ability to get what we want and protect ourselves. We can use the Internet to research all the components of power that interest us: body language, Machiavellianism, economic theory, social skills, among many other subjects. It’s an endless well of information. This is not to say that theory is the only way to learn about power and social capital, but it certainly elucidates the process.
The scope of this argument does not stop at power, but incorporates all areas of our lives where access to information would allow us to improve and realize our potential. We may need a discerning eye to find accurate information, but the information is there, nevertheless.
Think about what our predecessors would have given to have even a fraction of the tools at our disposal. Can you imagine how a 19th century linguist would react if they were granted even a minute on Google Translate?
It is now possible to become as educated as you desire, in whatever field you desire. It is now possible to become a true “Renaissance man.” It is possible to push yourself to the edge of your intellectual abilities and see what you’re capable of. It is now possible to maximize your competency.
Why be stagnant when we have an endless goldmine of potential at our disposal? There has never been an opportunity like this in the entirety of human history. Become someone whose knowledge and skills would have been unimaginable one hundred years ago. Embrace the spirit of our time!
Featured graphic created by Keith Wilson. The opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect his own.