2.6 Knowledge & Power

"This is the bitterest pain among men, to have much knowledge but no power."

Herodotus, <425 BC

Knowledge : An interactive process that engages a being's

resources, faculties and talents that results in the generation,

regeneration, creation or acquisition of a relationship between

the being and its interactive environment.

"Knowledge was inherent in all things. The world was a library and its books
were the stones, leaves, grass, brooks and the birds and animals that shared,
alike with us, the storms and blessings of the earth. We learn to do what only
the student of nature ever learns, and that is to feel beauty. We never rail at
the storms, the furious winds, the biting frosts and snows. To do so intensifies
human futility, so whatever comes we should adjust ourselves by more effort
and energy if necessary, but without complaint. Bright days and dark days are
both expressions of the Great Mystery, and the Indian reveled in being
close the the Great Holiness." ...............Chief Luther Standing Bear

"It is an initiation into the love of learning, of learning how to learn . . . . as
a matter of interdisciplinary cognition - that is, learning to know something
by its relation to something else."......Leonard Bernstein

Power : The forceful application of the held knowledge of a

being that results not only in enhancing that knowledge, but

also results in enhancing life in the interactive environment.

"It is a sad reflection . . . that a sense of responsibility which comes
with power is the rarest of things"......Alexander Crummell

'Knowledge is Power' is a common saying, but in this work, the two concepts
are quite distinct, but no doubt related.  Today,  information  and   data  have
become   synonymous   with   knowledge   and    technology   has   become
synonymous with Power. Knowledge has been reduced to an equation and
Power resides in a smarter and smarter machine. Wise philosophers in no less
than   prestigious   universities  talk  about    the  ever   increasing  computing
power   that  will  eventually  make  our    biological   bodies   redundant  by
uploading  the  'Self '  into   huge computers, even  making copies or clones
of   the  'Self  ',  or   rather,  the   Digital  Self.    The  only   problem    that   these
philosophers   so  wisely  foresee  is  : what  will happen to the properties that
belong to these 'transhuman ' Digital  Self''s ?

'Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge
Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?"
                    ----T.S. Eliot

For the purpose of this work, knowledge is defined as a quality

that brings forth ( or at least has the potential to bring forth )

results  out   of  a set of beliefs, experiments, experiences  or

programs for an individual in terms of enhancing the overall

efficiency  and   potential  of  the  individual  (or a group of

individuals    sharing  the  same  belief/s,  experience/s,

experiment  or   program  ).  The  acquisition,  generation,

development  and   enhancement  of  knowledge  is  thus

an  interactive   process  in  which  expressions of any

kind  plays a central role. ( according to the talents

or uniqueness of the being)

" Shall I teach you what knowledge is? When you know a thing,
to hold that you know it; and when you do not know a thing, to
allow that you do not know it. The essence of knowledge is,
having it, to apply it; not having it, to confess your ignorance"
....................Confucius

Knowledge in this work does not mean just data, but rather the

applicability and the  structural order of the data in the mind of a

being -  its valid  application for personal as well as general use.

The  concept  of  knowledge is also contrasted with the concept of

imagination : an internal process of knowledge generation. Thus

imagination is in a way the activity that is the source of knowledge.

But knowledge is truly generated only   when imaginative activity

then is followed by the systematisation and rationalisation process

in which interactions and expressions play vital roles.

" I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination.
Imagination   is   more   important   than    knowledge.
Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world."
........Albert Einstein

2.6.1 Personal Validity & Knowledge - The Relationship

"There are three things extremely hard: steel, a diamond,
and to know one's self"....Benjamin Franklin

Personal Validity is the Knowledge of Oneself, that is, your Personal

Validity is the measure of how well you know and apply yourself.

This application is an interactive process in which the already held

knowledge is tested for its validity. It is this interactive process

and its results that enhances the knowledge, so that it becomes

powerful or acquires power and potency.

"I know myself," he cried, "but that is all.".......F. S Fitzgerald

Personal Validity is power manifest as knowledge, which

transforms into forceful, right understanding and action.

  " Knowledge is proportionate to being....You know in virtue of

what you are"......Huxley

It is the glue that binds our conceptual-experiential structure.

It is a two way relationship between experience and

conceptualisation. It is thus firstly an internal interactive process

between experience and conceptualisation, and then an interactive

process between conceptualisation and expression. Finally from

expressions that interact externally that lead to fresh or refined

concepts, to novel experiences.

It is the relationship and the creative force between beliefs

and results arising out of the application of these beliefs.

It is the applicability and validity of ideas, assumptions, beliefs

experiences and experiments.

"The passionate controversies of one era are viewed as sterile
preoccupations by another, for knowledge alters what we seek
as well as what we find"....Freda Adler

This  concept of knowledge requires a subdivision into two

categories in order to further our understanding :

Personal and General

[One of the underlying assumptions in this work is that know-

ledge is created initially by an individual first, and then formulated 

( given form or expression ) and finally either accepted or

rejected by others. ]

2.6.2 Personal Knowledge or Subjective Knowledge

" In  the province  of  the mind, what one believes to be true is true or
becomes  true,  within  certain  limits to be found   experientially and
experimentally. These limits are further  beliefs  to be transcended.
In the mind,  there are no limits." (Lilly, 1972).

Knowledge created by an individual for the application of

enhancing oneself or to accomplish one's goals.

"Creative activity described as a type of learning process where teacher
and pupil are located in the same individual.".........Arthur Koestler

Knowledge that is personal is created by that individual through the

application of ideas, testing and experimenting of assumptions and

beliefs, through reconceptualisation of learned concepts (programs)

and also through sources or means that are unknown .

This knowledge may then be given form (formulated) i.e.

expressed through  language, art , symbolism etc.

"The only good is knowledge, and the only evil is ignorance"....Socrates

2.6.3 UNFORMULATED KNOWLEDGE

On  the  other   hand    this   personal   knowledge  may   remain

unformulated,  that is,  not   given  form.  The  individual  may  be

unwilling to do so, that is,    have  no desire  or  goal to do so ,  or

no fulfillment is realised in expressing or formulating it, or is simply

unable to do so due to the individuals limitations as regarding the

means (language) to do so.  This knowledge is therefore purely

personal, and other individuals can possibly only acquire it through

close personal contact . At the present time this kind of knowledge

is generally considered to be either of no consequence or rather

no knowledge at all. Another possibility is that the individual gives

form to personal knowledge for internal or self use only, that is,

giving expression or form to one's personal knowledge either

provides fulfillment or further enhances personal knowledge.

General acceptability of this expression is of secondary or

no importance to that individual.

2.6.4 FORMULATED KNOWLEDGE

" Much knowledge if out of proportion to the disposition of forces, is
invalid, however formally correct it may be." ...........Theodor Adorno

Knowledge that is given form is usually in relation to the forms

(linguistic) that have been acquired from society and developed as

analogies, models and metaprograms and so this form-relationship

also plays an important role in formulated knowledge.

Unformulated knowledge remains by and large detached from

this relationship, and by its nature is much more fluid and its

pragmatic application is instantaneous, and therefore should

by rule of thumb and in essence be primary to any formulation.

Modern education however suffers from this serious defect in

making and emphasising formulated knowledge as the dominant,

primary, and almost as if the only valid kind of knowing.

"It seems a pity that psychology should have destroyed all our
knowledge of human nature."  ..........Chesterton

2.6.5 REAL & TRUE PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE :

POWER and KNOWLEDGE

Here it is useful to distinguish between Real Knowledge and True

Knowledge. Real Knowledge is unformulated and always manifests

instantaneously and therefore is fleeting and undefinable, yet eternal.

True Knowledge is formulated or expressed Real Knowledge, and

therefore has temporary or transitory and limited validity.

" Our knowledge can only be finite, while our ignorance must

necessarily be infinite "....Karl Popper

True knowledge is the valid expression, knowing and applicability

of Real knowledge, and is valid only for a certain time, situation

or context. Real knowledge, although absolute, therefore has no

direct manifestation, but manifests on the spur of the moment as

a force or power that gives direction, generates or modifies the

existing knowledge.   This  results  in an enhanced order of the

knowledge held by a being by enhancing not only the truth of

that knowing, but also enhances the ability of the being to

rightly and forcefully apply that knowing.This ability is what

is called here as power.

" Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance "
......Confucius

Knowledge realised as forceful action or expression is Power.

Real knowledge or power can only be sustained by putting

it to continuous test in current reality.

"The measure of a man is what he does with power."
Pittacus

Power is only as good and effective as it is usable and

exercisable, AND more importantly, IS put to use

and exercised.

"Leadership is the wise use of power. Power is the capacity to

translate intention into reality and sustain it".......Warren Bennis

The judicious use of power enhances it, is creative, but its

disuse depletes it into apathy, and its injudicious use

is destructive.

" Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, and knowledge

without integrity is dangerous and dreadful ".......Samuel Johnson

 
POWER COMMANDS RIGHT ACTION AND CREATIVE

EXPRESSION

It is clear therefore that real knowledge, which manifests as power

is a personal knowing or personal power ( insofar as one is capable

of beholding it )  and  cannot be expressed directly,  at  best finds

indirect  expression  in   creative  artistic  form  or  forceful action.

And  so  has  no   general  validity  in  its  expression, since in the

process of its non-artistic expression it turns into plain knowledge.

Meaning, that  any classic expression does not necessarily enhance

the order of the agreed upon knowledge held by the social system.

Expressed  knowledge  in   artistic  form  has  the greatest potential,

although  it  cannot  be   agreed upon, due to its artistic nature, but

in a rigid or non-artistic form has a misleading and even destructive

tendency although can more easily be agreed upon  .

And that is the feature of all agreed upon knowledge - that is, its

potential for general abuse is as great as, if not more than its use.

"If a little knowledge is dangerous, where is the man who has so
much as to be out of danger?"............T. H. Huxley

"Doubt is not below knowledge, but above it".........Emile Chartier

2.6.6  FAKE KNOWLEDGE

" What use is it that knowledge mounts?
It's knowing something good that counts"...Friedrich von Logau

All knowing that has been force fed into someone, without any interest,

Will  or   volition on part of the subject,  is fake or misleading knowledge

since it deflects the subject from the free will and nature of the person.

Most modern education fits into this category, as it just serves the

function of programming people to respond in a predetermined

manner that increasingly resembles that of machines or even

more correctly - computerised robots.

" There was never an age in which useless knowledge was more
important than in our own"......C. E. M. Joad

Fake knowledge kills the creativity, drive and uniqueness of individuals

and this work takes a stand against this type of knowledge.

2.6.7 Knowledge - Power Summary

"The only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any
member of a civilized community, against their will is to prevent harm to
others. Their own good, either physical or moral, is not sufficient warrant."
............John Stuart Mill

Knowledge   with  moral  power  is  constructive,  i.e.,  true knowledge ;

creativity is real knowledge, i.e., power expressed as artistic knowledge;

and knowledge without moral power is destructive, at best misleading,

i.e., fake knowledge.

Power or real knowledge is the potent and forceful combination

of Will and Spirit, not necessarily pointing in the same

direction. 

2.6.8 THE COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

" Let me sum it up for you. Information is not knowledge. Knowledge is not wisdom.

Wisdom is not truth. Truth is not beauty. Beauty is not love.

Love is not music. Music is the best."

Frank Zappa

The above comparison highlights the fact that knowledge without power is

at best only data or information, and at worst has a negative value, that is,

it either obscures and diminishes one's potential,  or is outright destructive.

While most knowledge is forced by society upon individuals as a result of the

socialisation process, and a great percentage of it is redundant and even

downgrading to most people, a certain basic knowledge is essential, mostly

that which enhances language and communication skills.

"   The   true  lover  of  knowledge  naturally  strives  for   truth,  and is not
content with common opinion, but soars with undimmed and unwearied
passion till he grasps the essential nature of things.".......Plato

Power however always comes from within, from the right kind of knowing

that conforms to and harmonises one's inner predilections and uniqueness

and not according to social demands and conformity.

For power to meaningfully manifest in a being usually also means a deadly

conflict with social norms or conformity ( socially, culturally acquired beliefs),

but must resolve in a creative manner - in power, although at times it may

even  be   physiologically  detrimental  in  the  process,  but   the  fear of that

should not be a deterrent.

Power therefore can only manifest as valid knowledge, valid for a particular

being, for a particular situation, for a particular time, in a particular social,

cultural context. Therefore to have a valid knowledge base is the essential

requirement but which can only be self-developed and realised .

The Development of Knowledge into

Power as an Interactive Process

The acquisition of knowledge through interest and exercise of

talent can only be developed into power through the test and

exposure of its validity and applicability where something

vital is at stake. This is essentially an interactive process.

Once developed into power, this power is sustained only through

its exercise. The exercise of power is possible only through the

interactive process between:

A) a being and other living beings

B) or between two contrasting contexts

consciously setup within a being.

C) between a being and nature or entities

beyond self.

WARNING ! Any significant interactive process may well mean

a deadly conflict.

"One of the greatest joys ( as well as greatest risk ) known to
man is to take a ( deliberate ) flight into ignorance in search
of knowledge.".........Robert Lynd

Power once it begins manifestation can only be

held as long as it is exercised rightly in the process

of testing and enhancing knowledge.

" Until knowledge is understood in human and political terms as something
to be won to the service of coexistence and community, not of particular
races,  nations,  or religions,  the  future  augurs  badly ".........E. W. Said

2.6.8 Agreed upon Knowledge or Objective Knowledge:

"How could we possibly appreciate the Mona Lisa if Leonardo had written
at the bottom of the canvas: 'The lady is smiling because she is hiding a
secret from her lover.' This would shackle the viewer to reality, and I
don't want this to happen to 2001." --Stanley Kubrik

Knowledge created by an individual or a   group  of  individuals

(network of minds -as termed by Lilly)   and if expressed  and

formulated in terms of mathematical symbols & equations or art

or language or body language or even through extra sensory

means,  and  subsequently   agreed  upon  by  at the very least

one  more individual  is defined   in  this  work  as  agreed upon

knowledge.  If  this   expressed  or  formulated  knowledge  is

accepted   or  absorbed   by  only  one  more  or very few other

individuals (or within a group ): it is termed here as 'Knowledge

of Special Agreement'.In a much wider acceptability this becomes

the' Knowledge of General Agreement ' and finally that knowledge

which can be tested and verified by anybody is labeled here as

Objective Knowledge or Scientific Knowledge, and needs no

further elaboration here.

  2.6.9 Religion ,Family, Society ,Cults and the

Knowledge of Special Agreement.

"There are moments when one is more ashamed of what is called
culture than anyone can ever be of ignorance"...........E. V. Lucas

In  a particular  network or   group of  individuals,  a  set  of fixed

beliefs  becomes  accepted,   agreed  upon,  shared   or common

between  the  individuals.   These  fixed  beliefs are beliefs which

are more or less  not  allowed to be challenged  by the members.

Thus a certain core set of beliefs are considered to be the sacred

binding  force  within  the network and the group remains intact

so long as these beliefs remain intact. Therefore the core or the

fundamental set of unchallenged beliefs constitutes a sort of

"faith" or religion of the community.

Although  inflexible,  this   Knowledge  of  Special Agreement helps

the members of the  community by   providing a sense of  security,

agreement, direction and fulfillment to the construct of their minds,

all  of  which  are  no   doubt  vital  requirements  for  most  human

being's minds.

In  order  to  support and    strengthen these beliefs  further, certain

customs or rituals  or code of   ethics  are prescribed for the members

and thus certain social, and on a wider scale, cultural patterns emerge

which  have  a deep and lasting effect on the construct of the minds of

the individuals of that community or society. Many times, some of these

beliefs/conceptions may also spread to other societies in contact with

a particular society, especially if certain beliefs have apparently

widespread applicability.

(An example of this are scientifically established cause-effect properties

of physical objects (or as objectified by agreement). This has now become

a virtual global religion whereby everybody is now programmed to learn

and accept these cause-effect relationships as absolute truths.)

Clusters  of  such   societies  that have many core beliefs to be

common, lead to "cultures", the differences being only super-

ficial. So we have another category of knowing and reality : the

cultural reality, also commonly called as the "cultural construct".

Although  a  sense  of   security and relationship are the payoffs

for people in these "cultures ", the cost is in terms of the absence

of  diversity  within  the   culture  which  then  limits  the  potential 

not only of the individuals in these cultures, but also

of the entire culture itself.

"  There is no true expertise in the humanities without knowing all
of the humanities.  Art is a vast, ancient interconnected web-work,
a  fabricated  tradition.  Over-concentration  on any one point is a
distortion. " ..........Camille Paglia

Cultures that totally or at a fundamental level, resist change or do

not critically examine their long held beliefs and their impact upon

society, eventually degenerate and decay although this is never

obvious to members within that society or culture.

" A study of history shows that civilizations that abandon the quest
for knowledge are doomed to disintegration"....Bernard Lovell

SUMMARY

"You commit a sin of omission if you do not utilize all the power that is within you.
All people have claims on man, and to the person with special talents, this is a
very special claim. It is required that a person take part in the actions and
clashes of their time than the peril of being judged not to have lived at all.".
.......Oliver Wendell Holmes

This   article  covered  the  grounds  on  which  all   the  action  of  life  takes  place.
Knowledge  is that ground where power of two kinds battle :  One  that   is  creative
and  the other that destroys. Strangely, no culture emphasises this fine but definitive
distinction. The only thing that seems to count is 'progress' of loads of information in
science and 'development' of technology. Knowledge is indeed powerful, but this
power cuts both ways.   For  a human being it is essential to 'know ' this, only then
can the destructive be possibly transformed.

"Whom the gods would destroy, they first make mad with power".....Charles Beard

The next article is about what knowledge is for, and what directions it takes ( goals )
or  what  direction it can be made to take ( purpose ), what are the key forces that
direct knowledge : Will and Spirit, and finally what are the limits of knowledge and
the given potential of a being's intelligence.

"And yet each of us can carry the torch of knowledge but a part of the way,
until another takes it from him. "..........C. G. Jung

NEXT PAGE 10 : Potential, goals, will..

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