As a human growing up in a world dominated by consumerism I constantly feel the desire to buy the things I want. However that is completely not possible for most people unless you are one of the top 10% in this country. I can't lie, though I always imagine how my life would be if I won the lottery, and just what I would buy, even though my chances are very slim. As a person though I think we sometimes focus too much on the belief that owning something means that it is a tangible object. Like the philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre, I think that knowing some skill or even your education means that you own it, and is the true thing in life that makes you self fulfilled and powerful.
In the sense that I say you own what you know and what you are skilled in, I don't mean that it's only you who owns it. Many people can own the same thing and it goes the same for tangible objects as well. While there is a desire to own tangible items, as humans we also have the desire to know things and have skills. Education is a way to empower, and education allows you to learn something and own it. It is something that no one can ever take from you. The main reason for why slaves were not educated in the United states during the late 1600's and early 1700's was because white slave owners knew that it would give them power, which is why many slaves desired an education. Although white slave owners could take away slaves families and hope they could never take away the things that they knew, which is why education was greatly desired.
The same goes for today, even though the world today is very different from the 1700's we still value the things we learn very greatly. Why do you think the U.S. wants to improve our rank in Education among countries throughout the world? The reason is because we want to feel proud and have the sense of feeling that our students own a greater knowledge and education than any child from any other country on Earth. This also applies to the Olympics in which we send our best athletes from across the world in order to compete and show off their skills in front of the global audience. As humans it is in our nature to enjoy competition because we want to appear as a better person than someone else, which gives us self fulfillment. These skills you have no one can take, because it is your own and it is very much apart of your spirit and drive that keeps you human. Without a sense of self fulfillment by the things you "own" you would feel more like a vegetable, rather than a human being.
I can't lie I feel the same way all the time when it comes to school. I constantly work hard in all of my classes and study so that I get good grades, because I know that education is what truly makes you a wealthy person, not the tangible objects that many people think does. I am in competition with all of the students across the U.S. every day of my life, and that will be evident when I apply to college. Even though this may seem like I am nervous, I feel a sense of fulfillment because even if I don't get into the best school in America, I will still have my education which I "own" and no one can ever take away. I will always feel the sense of being wealthy in the fact that I have received such a great education and knowledge, knowledge that 85% of America may know yet that extra 15% is what makes me unique.
Like the famous Nelson Mandela once said, "Education is the most powerful weapon, which you can use to change the world." This is a completely true statement, that supports the fact that knowledge is something you own, and it is something that gives you power that can never be taken away from you. Some people may say that you can use money to change the world, but money is only tangible. It is the fact that owning knowledge and skills is what truly enables you to change the world.
Ello Joe!
ReplyDeleteSo as usual you wrote a very nice blog that is concise and maintains a constant point ; We can own intangible things such as knowledge. However I would be interested in how far this ownership extends. You make your point about knowledge however it feels as if your blog shifts to more convincing me that knowledge is a powerful thing which does prove that we can own it but is a bit unfocused. Perhaps you could give other example of intangible things.Power seemed to be the other intangible thing you were hinting at but it seemed more connected to knowledge then ownership.
Other then that is was a really great blog. Take my words as a grain of salt and don't overdue it cause I may be wrong! :D
Hi, Joe:
ReplyDeleteI agree with Charlie. Your voice is consistent and confident and thoughtful, which makes this very pleasant to read. But I agree with Charlie's questions, too: How far does the ownership of knowledge extend? When does it fail us, if ever? And, as Charlie said, boosting up that connection between ownership & knowledge and ownership & power could make this a tad stronger. But overall, this is pretty good!!