From Socrates to today’s undergraduates, philosophy professor Mitchell Green discusses the history and current relevance of the human quest for self-knowledge. (Getty Images)
Knowledge is crucial and essential to human nature. Humans function to discover and acquire new knowledge. By nature, some inherent qualities and behaviors define who we are as an individual. From socialization to curiosity, these natural traits are the basis for the pursuit of knowledge.
In this article, I will be exploring the reason people seek knowledge and dive further in detail with my experience in discovering and seeking knowledge and understanding where my core values come from.
Knowledge allows us to develop into a person of substance. Meaning that a person is well respected and admired with qualities such as humility, integrity, and morality, which are influential/valuable to themselves as well as to society. Most individuals would aspire to become a better version of themselves. Whether a student or an employee, at school or work, these individuals have a purpose, a goal that they strive to achieve. As a result, to the best of their abilities, they would push and challenge themselves to achieve that goal. However, before all steps, knowledge is the basis, the most fundamental aspect of human cognition. Knowledge must exist to achieve greater growth. Once knowledge is obtained either through experience or learning and or observing, it guides individuals to develop into a person of substance.
Personally, the road to playing collegiate soccer, or a step further, has tremendously influenced my characteristics and values that encourage me to become a person of substance. For example, one of the most important things I learned as a student-athlete is humility. Through the years of playing soccer, I have experienced many difficulties; however, there is a rule by nature, that both good and tough times are temporary. Nothing in life is everlasting. If something good has occurred, it is a signal that there will be a downfall. If something bad has occurred, it is a signal that you can mount back up again.
One bad practice does not lead to a bad game. One bad game does not lead to a bad season. One bad season does not lead to a bad career. Just because of a mistake or a setback, one should not criticize or captivate oneself from it, but instead accept the failure and look forward to improvement. Soccer has taught me to remain humble in any situation and focus on the process rather than the result.
Knowledge allows us to make informed decisions. Every decision reflects our actions. These actions always result in consequences that are either pleasant or unpleasant and we take responsibility for them. However, making informed decisions is not easy. It means having an understanding and knowledge of the possible outcomes and consequences that come along with it. Likewise, it is important to make informed decisions to reduce the risk of making poor decisions and have the responsibility to act for it. These informed decisions may help to fulfill and achieve the desired outcome. Therefore, it is essential to have a clear understanding and knowledge of the different perspectives, consider the pros and cons of each action, and recognize the possible consequences/impact the decisions may have on oneself and others. Without knowledge, it is difficult to understand a situation, evaluate options, and anticipate potential outcomes.
For example, for an athlete, multiple factors are required to enhance their performance. One key factor is proper nutrition and hydration. With proper nutrition and hydration, athletes can recover and repair their tissues, as well as provide energy for the proper use of muscles. Thus, I strongly believe that as an athlete myself, it is crucial to maintain a healthy diet and avoid any distractions that may disrupt my performance. Therefore, I exert myself fully to avoid drinking, smoking, and other harmful substances or activities.
Curiosity is the basis of knowledge. It is the foundation of the desire to learn and have a deeper understanding of the world around us. Just like a car, the car cannot go anywhere without fuel. Curiosity acts as the fuel used to run the car in search of knowledge. When one is curious about a certain topic or object, they create a need to discover that curiosity. Accordingly, that curiosity will develop into knowledge. Once that knowledge is obtained, one can understand and discover that there is an unlimited amount of knowledge that has yet to be discovered or learned. In other words, the more knowledge obtained, the more curiosity developed. Interestingly, this cycle never ends.
That is why knowledge is crucial and essential to me.
