The Gray Area with Sean Illing Is ignorance truly bliss?
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Feb 17, 2025 Mark Lilla, a Professor of Humanities at Columbia University and author of "Ignorance and Bliss: On Wanting Not to Know," dives into the tug-of-war between knowledge and ignorance. He discusses when ignorance might serve us better, referencing Plato's allegory of the cave. Lilla explores how the comfort of not knowing can sometimes shield us from societal pressures and personal anxieties. The conversation reflects on the balance between curiosity and denial, revealing the psychological complexity of wanting both enlightenment and the bliss of ignorance.
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The Dual Desires of Knowledge
- Humans possess a desire to know and a desire to not know.
- These conflicting drives shape our worldviews, relationships, and self-image.
Hiding Ignorance
- We dislike admitting our ignorance and often create defenses to maintain a sense of understanding.
- This can lead to incorporating preposterous ideas into our worldview to avoid appearing ignorant.
Learning from Ignorance
- Socrates explored learning from ignorance by acknowledging the uncertainty of knowledge.
- People were frustrated during COVID when health authorities changed their advice, demonstrating a preference for certainty.