Since I can remember I have always heard that knowledge is power. No wonder my parents went far and beyond to ensure I had the opportunity to attend Saint Mary’s. My parents believe knowledge is powerful when obtained through a Catholic education. Thus, I understand the intent of Saint Mary’s University in developing God’s gift of knowledge with a mind of my own. The Saint Mary’s University liberal education will affect the growth of my own mind and soul which will allow my never-ending pursuit of knowledge. Because of Saint Mary’s Catholic education community is why I transferred to Saint Mary’s, not only I want to attain knowledge but coupled with my motivation and desire to become a police officer I will be able to grow as a person. The …show more content…
In the film, Rita is a 26 years old hairdresser wanting to realize her academic potential by attending college but first completing a literature course. Her husband is not too happy that Rita prefers an education instead of starting a family. She wants to learn and change from the inside to become confident and independent. At first Dr. Frank Bryant, the college professor, did not want to teach her because he realizes she has no schooling and it will be hard to teach her. He adds, “All I know is that I know absolutely nothing” (“Educating Rita”) trying to convince her that he will not tutor her. But Rita is persistent and insist for him to teach her. When her husband finds out that she is taking birth control pills, he burns her books and pills. Educating Rita is an example of how education can affect an individual. Rita learns and develops an independent mind so she leaves her husband. Throughout the film Dr. Frank teaches Rita how to write essays to pass the exams to enter the university. Like in Educating Rita, though the liberal education at Saint Mary’s will not make you Catholic or make you a good man, it will change your mind and soul to an independent mind capable to speak your own …show more content…
Both became independent minds who think on their own, form their own opinions and can speak up for themselves. They attain their knowledge through a true experience and not by perception which is not necessarily the truth. Rita lives a true experience in the university while the three prisoners live inside the cave under a false perception. To learn we must be exposed to a learning environment, so Rita learns when she is tutored by Dr. Frank, whereas the escaped prisoner learned by experiencing the truth outside of the cave. Indeed, Albert Einstein’s quote “the only source of knowledge is experience” supports the fact of how Rita and the escaped prisoner could learn from experience. The other two prisoners inside the cave live a false reality and are not aware of their surroundings so they do not have the chance to learn the truth therefore they do not believe what the escaped prisoner shares he sees. Though we like the two prisoners in the cave should question the reality or truth we must keep accumulating new experiences and knowledge to develop our own individuality within society. In other words, one should welcome the living of new experiences and attaining new knowledge that will affect your thinking and ability to speak for yourself. More importantly, go out there and learn, gain the knowledge by living the
The free dictionary online defines knowledge as “an awareness, consciousness, or familiarity gained by experience or learning”. Power, on the other hand, means “the ability or official capacity of a person, group or nation to exercise great influence or control and authority over others”. In Voltaire’s “Candide”, Goethe’s “Faust”, and Shelley’s Frankenstein, the quest for more knowledge and power sets the stage for the story yet the characters, Candide, Frankenstein, and Faust remain unhappy after acquiring the much desired knowledge and power. It can be said, therefore, that knowledge, and even money, often times twists and corrupts the mind because of the control (power) it gives people over others.
Throughout Frankenstein it is evident that Victor and Robert express their thirst for knowledge, which often leads to destruction. Through analyzing Frankenstein it is possible to find many examples that illustrate the fact that wanting to have more knowledge can be extremely dangerous. Firstly, as Victor is creating life he is able to create a humanoid monster, unfortunately he is appalled by his creation and becomes very ill. Afterwards, when Victor is completing the female companion for his original creation, Victor realizes that this will only create more destruction. Finally, as Walton is on a journey to the North Pole he encounters difficulties that nearly kill him and his crew. This shows that Victor and Walton are repeatedly searching for more knowledge even though it is dangerous.
Even though the tradition is longer than the university, the Catholic college serves as a platform to maintain, communicate, and advance it. In Mary Ellen O’Donnell’s essay, she quotes Father Leo Ward from the University of Notre Dame, who claims, “Just as we reject the principle of divorcing faith and works, so we reject the principle and the practice of divorcing the life of faith and the life of study,” (O’Donnell 43). Meaning, Catholic universities aren’t disconnecting faith from their education. Specifically, these institutions have played a crucial role in the cultivation of the intellectual heritage. Today, most things are done through reason alone. The Catholic university’s role is to maintain the relationship between faith and reason. Even though, as what O’Donnell describes, The Catholic Intellectual can be seen as an oxymoron, the Catholic university is committed to keeping the tradition a part of their overall mission. More importantly, these institutions try and reinforce faith and reason to solve complex problems of the world, and by doing so, they are furthering the advancement of the living tradition. O’Donnell adds, “With the criteria of the Catholic intellectual tradition at the heart of their mission and identity, then Catholic universities and colleges bear much of the burden of keeping the tradition alive and encouraging its growth and development,” (O’Donnell 61-62). Because the need for both faith and reason in the world is so imperative, without Catholic colleges, the tradition’s chance to continue to be living would significantly
Francis Bacon, a widely known English philosopher and author, once said, “Knowledge is power”. People are often told they can achieve anything; however it is the individual with the most wisdom that does the most. A person with the drive for knowledge can be dangerous and an asset to both society and its traditions. Therefore, Professor Ted Llewelyn’s assertion that “knowledge is the most priceless and most perishable substance on earth” is true because with it an individual can do impossible things and without is the world remains blind.
Knowledge is an addictive drug. If administered in controlled dosages, it has the ability to cure a critical illness; however, if taken whimsically and in excess, it acts as a consumptive toxin that can result in powerful suffering or even death. If this is the case, then what makes knowledge so desirable? Throughout their texts, Aeschylus and Shelley depict numerous characters in mad pursuit of knowledge, like Victor’s creature from Frankenstein or Io from Prometheus Bound. Yet, one after another, characters are propelled into an existence of utter despair because of their unquenchable thirst for new enlightenment. Prometheus Bound and Frankenstein demonstrate that the pursuit of knowledge often results in grave suffering, physically and mentally; yet, Shelley and Aeschylus’ characters cannot abandon their chases, as knowledge provides the ultimate form of individual glory, power, and freedom.
How is knowledge power? How do we benefit from learning from different points of view?
Throughout the book Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave many themes are developed relating to slavery. Such themes that are well developed include corruption, brutality, and knowledge. Perhaps the most important theme that was developed was knowledge and its power in everything. Frederick Douglass gained knowledge throughout his life, defying the laws surrounding slavery. Perhaps one of the most impressive things from the life of Frederick Douglass was the fact that, except for a few months at the beginning of his engagement with Mr. and Mrs. Auld, he was a self taught man who took it upon himself to expand his knowledge. Frederick Douglass discovered the power of knowledge and applied this to his life in many different stages. First, he discovered that knowledge is power. Second, he went out of his way to obtain all the knowledge he could. Third, he used that knowledge, that he had gained over years and years of self-taught, underground learning, and used it to run away from the brutal life of a slave. Finally, he used the knowledge he had gained to publicly speak against the institution of slavery and make it a point to earn the right of universal suffrage for all men. He presented many ideas, which we today, can see were very strong and moral convictions from his views as an abolitionist.
New Atlantis begins with the apparent utopian society successfully synthesizing scientific endeavor and achievement with Christian theology. This revelation is only half-hearted; Bacon’s true motive is nothing less than the subversion of Christian scholastic dogma and replacing it with material wellbeing through scientific scholarship as outlined in Bacon’s works. Through proper method a different kind of knowledge could be acquired liberating human destiny from divine intervention. Bacon’s knowledge empowers mankind reducing suffering and improving our wellbeing. “Wherefore, as in religion we are warned to show our faith by works, so in philosophy by the same rule the system should be judged by its fruits, and pronounced frivolous if it be barren,” (New Organon, Bacon, 12) Bacon in the 17th century elevated the measure for knowledge where it must be able to produce useful works separating itself from the past.
I learned several things from the Catholic Intellectual Tradition that make Fr. Malloy’s statement true. One of these, is the affirmation of liberal learning by encouraging us to be intellectually curious and to be life long learners. I have applied this in my life, not only religiously, but also academically and emotionally. We are encouraged to keep on exploring and challenging ourselves and the society we pertain to; hence, simultaneously impacting our world through exploration and new challenges. This course helped me flourish spiritually, it definitely challenged my views on certain topics, and allowed me to understand others’ perspectives in a safe environment.
My philosophy of higher education is that thus far we have realized that the gift of sharing knowledge is one of the keys to success in our society. We have learned from so many great philosophers, scientist, and researchers that have fueled our knowledge in a vast variety subjects. The importance of passing on this knowledge and improving our society has shown to be important in human survival and our growth in the years to come. As the years pass and technology is getting more advanced, the need for higher education is steadily rising. In the past years, a bachelor’s degree was viewed as one of the greatest accomplishments of that time. Now in today’s standards, only having a bachelors degree will not suffice. Thus proving that higher education is the pillars for growth in humanity. Similar to my philosophy, I believe my Christian experience relates to my views of higher education. For instance, as Christians, we have learned that the keys to success is reading and learning from the Bible. Just as we have learned from past philosophers, the Bible provides Christians with knowledge to continue to walk in the path that God has paved for us to go to heaven. In addition, talking and communicating with God helps us in times of need. He is our teacher and supervisor providing us useful knowledge to succeed. From that guidance, it is our job to pass that knowledge to other Christians to grow in our faith. In both higher education and Christianity, our job is to pass our knowledge and faith to others to maintain and improve human survival for years to come. Moreover, in today’s society, there is a growing need for Christ centered learning. I believe that CBU offers that and more. By combining my Christian experience and philosophy of ...
The Romantic Era followed the Age of Enlightenment, a time of scientific discovery, political changes, and philosophical advancement. Romanticism challenged the rationality of the Enlightenment (Britannica). Romantic artists placed emotions above reason. In keeping with the Romantic tradition, Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley challenges the benefits of science, education, and knowledge. In Frankenstein, Dr. Frankenstein, his creature, and Robert Walton are all ambitious; they have a desire for knowledge. However, this quest for knowledge brings about destruction to Dr. Frankenstein, misery to the monster, and danger to Walton. Shelley draws parallels to the Biblical story of the Fall; a catastrophe which befell mankind because of a desire for knowledge.
The concept of power is present within various realms of all organizations. Power, however, is not something that should necessarily be looked at negatively. There are justifiable types of power that may be important to criminal justice organizations. The main role of power in criminal justice administration should be to gain compliance from subordinates of all types, and turn that power over time into acceptable forms of authority (Stojkovic et al., 2008). It is for this reason that power is an important attribute in criminal justice agencies.
For many the pursuit of knowledge is a driving force for progress. Knowledge of the divine; however, is a touchy subject that is pursued by both Elie Wiesel and Harold Kushner. For Kushner, this pursuit is to better understand and help others to understand why bad things happen in the world. For Elie, this was a hobby and even possible occupation. But pursuing knowledge is an essential part of moving forwards.
Education provides unique experiences to everyone. These experiences are not depended on the individual’s personal backgrounds or social statuses. According to Jane Thompson, a scholar in education, the process of education can either be a restriction on creativity or a “practice of freedom.” In Willy Russell’s Educating Rita, the protagonist’s experience through the Open University is a practice of freedom as she is provided with the opportunities to express her thoughts and discover her own limits. There is an internal struggle within Rita as the new environment threatens to erase her past life. Rita is able to maintain her practice of freedom through the help of Frank, whom provides her with a welcoming and encouraging learning environment.
“Education means enabling the mind to find out that ultimate truth which emancipates us from the bondage of dust and gives us the wealth of not things but of inner light , not of power but of love, making this truth its even and giving expression to it.”