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| Knowledge and Wisdom by Bertrand Russell Summary and Question Answer |
Summary
The essay ‘Knowledge and Wisdom’ written by Bertrand Russell differentiates between knowledge and wisdom. Knowledge is defined as the acquisition of data and information and wisdom is defined as practical application and use of the knowledge to create values. Wisdom is gained through learning and practical experience, not just by memorization.
Russell has shown some factors that contribute to wisdom in the essay. They are sensed of proportion, comprehensiveness, emancipation from personal prejudice, impartiality and awareness of human needs and understanding. He has mentioned that knowledge alone can be harmful if it lacks wisdom. For example, the invention of medicine is useful to reduce infant mortality but equally it is harmful because it can increase food scarcity, and the number of populations to grow. He asserts that people have gained knowledge but their knowledge is not combined with wisdom. As of result of the lack of wisdom, personal prejudices are growing day by day. People have become impatient, boastful and wicked in the absence of wisdom. According to him, the essence of wisdom is emancipation from personal prejudices and tyranny of sensory perception.
Wisdom can be taught by instilling the seeds of wisdom in their practical life. There are many people having sound knowledge of everything but they lack wisdom which they don’t reflect their behaviour. They lack practical knowledge of how knowledge can be mixed with wisdom and utilized wisely in their practices. Russell has mentioned Queen Elizabeth I, Henry IV and Abraham Lincoln as the most noble persons who mixed their knowledge with wisdom. Queen Elizabeth I, and Henry IV remained free from the errors of their time and Lincoln conducted a great war without departing from wisdom. According to the writer, the world need more wisdom in the future because knowledge is being outbroken in every field but the knowledge may not have wisdom combined in it.
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Understanding the text
a. What are the factors that contribute to wisdom?
Ans: - The factors that contribute to wisdom as mentioned in the essay by the essayist, Bertrand Russell are sense of proportion, comprehensiveness, emancipation from personal prejudice, impartiality and awareness of human needs and understanding.
b. What message does the writer try to convey with the example of technicians?
Ans: - Russell has given an example of technicians that technical knowledge alone can be harmful if the knowledge is applied without wisdom. The knowledge in one field can harm another field. They can’t find it out. It must be proportionately examined if it does harm in another field or not. For example, the discovery of medicine to decrease the infant death rate can cause population growth and food scarcity.
c. Which leaders does Russell say were able to mix knowledge and wisdom soundly?
Ans: - According to Russell, Queen Elizabeth I, Henry IV from France and Abraham Lincoln were able to mix knowledge and wisdom soundly. Queen Elizabeth I, Henry IV remained free from the errors of their time. Similarly, Abraham Lincoln conducted a war without departing from wisdom.
d. Why is wisdom needed not only in public ways, but in private life equally?
Ans: - Wisdom is needed in both public and private life equally. Wisdom is needed with the choice of ends to be pursued and in emancipation from personal prejudice. One must have sufficient patience and persuasiveness in convincing people avoiding enmity.
e. What, according to Russell, is the true aim of education?
Ans: - According to Russell, the true aim of education is to instill the seeds of wisdom in people’s activities which then help to utilize their knowledge in their practical life without making any harm to human beings.
f. Can wisdom be taught? If so, how?
Ans: - Yes, wisdom can be taught. Knowledge without wisdom is harmful to human beings. The persons who only have knowledge lacking wisdom should be instilled wisdom in them so that they can utilize it practically in their life long activities. The hatred can lead them to more disasters.
g. Why does the world need more wisdom in the future?
Ans: - The growth of knowledge in every sector at present shows a positive situation that knowledge will be more developed. If wisdom is not developed in the future, the knowledge alone can mislead and be misused which may bring negative impacts. The knowledge without wisdom is harmful. So wisdom should be mixed with knowledge for wisest activities that human beings conduct in the future.
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Reference to the context
a. According to Russell, “The pursuit of knowledge can become harmful unless it is combined with wisdom.” Justify this statement.
Ans: - Knowledge is an acquired asset of human beings. Everyone is more curious to gain knowledge learning new things of their choice and want. The gained knowledge can be both beneficial and harmful. Beneficial knowledge mayn’t harm a lot but knowledge without wisdom is disastrous. The knowledge must be combined with wisdom for making no harm. The pursuit of knowledge may become harmful unless it is combined with wisdom. For example, the discovery of atomic energy is a great invention but it is equally harmful to mankind because the knowledge is used in making atom bombs. Similarly, Hegel made the Germans feel that they were the superior of all human race in the world but this knowledge led the Germans to disastrous wars. Therefore, it is necessary to combine knowledge with wisdom.
b. What, according to Russell, is the essence of wisdom? And how can one acquire this very essence?
Ans: - According to Russell, the essence of wisdom is avoidance of hatred being free from personal prejudice and being impartial to all. If a person is bias and acts partially, he is not free from ego which calls for hatred. Having a sense of hatred is harmful which lacks wisdom. The wisdom makes everyone more caring and loving to all human beings, sensitive enough to handle the activities and full of patience and persuasiveness in convincing people and in avoiding enmity. One can acquire this essence by being free from personal prejudice, breaking the chains of egoism, understanding the ends of human life and applying the acquired knowledge broadly and wisely for the maintaining human relationships.
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