"Is knowledge an instrinsic good?"

By Jennifer Lester <lesterjennifer@hotmail.com>

The Webster’s Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary (interesting name ‘7th New’) defines knowledge as "the fact or condition of having information or of being learned" . John Hospers defines intrinsic good as something good "for it’s own sake" or "worthwhile as an end".
Knowledge appears to be an intrinsic good. Most problems arise because of ignorance. Even when it is impossible for someone to know something, they are ignorant or unlearned. Therefore when something goes wrong, it is because of lack of knowledge. If everything were known there would be no bad. Hosper’s discusses the following example: "It might have been better if people had never developed the knowledge that enable them to make nuclear bombs, and it might have been better if your parents had never come to know certain facts about you (if it made them miserable without helping anyone)." This does not look at complete knowledge; instead it looks at only partial knowledge. If people were omniscient ,or all knowing, they would have all knowledge. They would even have the knowledge of whether or not the nuclear bomb was good to build. People would also have the knowledge to know that their parents were going to find out and therefore alter their actions. So we are all ignorant and knowledge is an intrinsic good, since by knowing all conditions and circumstances would give pleasing results.

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Tom Lundis <Kman26@hotmail.com>

I agree that knowledge is an intrinsic good. Many people would say that a certain knowledge is bad (knowledge of war, learning something that hurts you) but these are in fact applications of Knowledge that are harmful. If we take these things and react positively to them then they are not bad.


Gina Baker <Daphine10@hotmail.com>

I think that your paper was really good and to the point. I do agree with what you are saying.


Michael T Tucker <tuckerm@greenwood.net>

Outstanding job on your topic. I agree with most problems arise from ignorance.


Leah Patterson <coco_c_007@hotmail.com>

If I'm remembering my childhood bed-time stories correctly, there was once a story about a man who was granted one wish. He chose to know everything -- everything that had ever been, everything that was, everything that ever would be. Know what happened to him? He went insane. Having intellectual knowledge of everything that ever had or would existed, coupled with the knowledge that he couldn't do anything to change most of it, drove him crazy. I do think that knowledge is an intrinsic good, but I also believe that there are a great many people in this world who wouldn't know what to do with knowledge if they were given more than they needed to get by. It would, in effect, make them unhappy and possibly end up destroying their lives.


Brian Bearden <bbearden@student.lander.edu>

In the first place there is no way to be all knowing, what would be the purpose of living. Knowledge isn't always good, sometimes it's better to be left in the dark.


Anna C. Nance <eirendel@yahoo.com>

For most people, ignorence is bliss. Would you ant to know the hour and means of your death, or that of your loved ones? That would be included in omniscient knowledge. Is that an intrensic good?


Amy Young <bbfhyoung@yahoo.com>

Your paper is interesting. However, does having knowledge mean that we have the power to change the future? We may know how our parents will react but does that mean that we will change our actions? What if the parents had absolute knowledge? This would mean that they would be aware of our actions. Would this change anything? Some may argue that even with knowledge people would still have built the bomb because of the technology that could be derived from this discovery. Knowledge is good but would it change anything?


Rachel Crowe <rcrowe@usa.net>

Your paper makes a very good point in that complete knowledge is an intrinsic good not partial knowledge. The nuclear weapon was a good example. If it is known how to build one, then the consequences of using one and whether using one is right should also be known.


Chun Yeung <jane1227@yahoo.com>

I agree that knowledge is an intrinsic good. However, even you have knowledge, you still make some mistakes once a while. Making mistake is a process of learning, so mistake is a part of your knowledge as well.


Demetri <dandrews92@hotmail.com>

I may be missing something, but does omniscience include knowledge of the future?


Jamie Meadows <riojeepgrl>

You've writen an interesting paper. So many instances can be thought up where maybe, ignorance is better than knowledge. But without gaining knowledge there would be so little. So, I guess I agree with you.


Nick Hart <Hart125@hotmail.com>

I like your paper! well thought out!


Tim Andrews <tandrews@emeraldis.com>

I feel that knowledge is an intrinsic good, but I can also see how people's lives can result in reduced stress through living by the "ignorance is bliss" philosophy.


Michelle Komski <michellekomski@hotmail.com>

I enjoyed your paper. It was well thought out and your examples were good!


Due Date <3-27-00>

Formal comments completed.


Nichole Sanders <snk79@hotmail.com>

I don't feel that ignorance is completely bad. Some people are perfectly happy not knowing, which is being without knowledge. You can not have knowledge and still be happy.


Russell L. Martin <rangjung21@hotmail.com>

I like how ou started off with a definition of intrinsic good.


Due Date <3/27/00> <Formal Comments Completed>

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