The meaning of true knowledge
The Greek Philosopher Socrates once said, “To know is to know that you know nothing. That is the meaning of true knowledge.”
Our youth is the pursuit of the many things that life has promised us. It is the pursuit of purpose, of joy, of love, of success, and of knowledge and wisdom.
During this period of pursuit, we may be surprised to find that while things like purpose and success will eventually find their way into our lives, the feeling of having great knowledge and wisdom will not come so easily. Those who find that it does, may also find upon further examination that there is a great number of things within their knowledge that they do not truly understand.
For example, all of us may believe that we have a full understanding of what colour is. We know how to identify the colours, and if anyone were to ask us if we know what red, blue and green were, we would be able to confidently point out objects of those colours. However, our entire body of knowledge about this seemingly fundamental topic is brought into question when a simple task is brought to us – describe colour to someone who has been blind since they were born.
This task is practically impossible, because our own understanding of colour is, as we discover, quite lacking. Orange, for example, does not have a definition by itself. It is simply the colour of the setting sun, or the colour of the orange fruit. It would thus be impossible for someone who has never seen these things to imagine what the colour orange is.
This realisation applies to so many other ideas and concepts that we believe that we know quite well. Does this mean that all of our values and beliefs are not as solid as we think they are? How much of our knowledge is a true understanding of concepts and not information that has been adopted from others or deduced from tangential ideas? If we can never truly know anything for sure, then what is the point of seeking enlightenment or wisdom?
The beauty in realising that you do not know anything and are not likely to know anything in the near future, is the fact that you have already achieved the most important stage in gaining a true level of wisdom. This realisation leads you to a lifetime of being open to learning and asking questions. It builds your character in unexpected ways. It helps you see people and situations at more than just the surface. It may also eventually lead you into the habit of naturally questioning why or how each part of our world works. It shows you that the entire basis of knowing a fact is the process of determining its truth and using this truth to influence the world.
The meaning of true knowledge is built on the understanding that no one can fully attain it, but we can add to it simply by seeking it.