New Books in Intellectual History Peter Burke, "Ignorance: A Global History" (Yale UP, 2024)
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Feb 14, 2025 In this engaging discussion, Peter Burke, Emeritus Professor of Cultural History at the University of Cambridge, shares insights from his new book, exploring humanity's historical relationship with ignorance. He reveals how past societies viewed their own knowledge in contrast to earlier generations and discusses the complexities of ignorance in various contexts, including religion, war, and politics. Burke also highlights the often-overlooked benefits of ignorance as a driver of curiosity and scientific inquiry, urging listeners to rethink the value placed on knowledge.
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Shift in Focus
- Peter Burke, a cultural historian, shifted his focus to problems over periods after retirement.
- His "Ignorance" book is a sequel to his knowledge-focused works, applying an inverted perspective.
Defining Ignorance
- Burke defines ignorance as the absence of knowledge, rejecting the sociological idea of its construction.
- He categorizes ignorance into simple, wanting not to know, and preventing others from knowing.
Epistemology of Ignorance
- 18th-century English women argued that men kept them ignorant for control.
- This was achieved by denying women access to education.
