The opposite of ignorance isn’t intelligence – at least not native intelligence. The World is full of fools who score well on aptitude tests.
The real opposite of ignorance is curiosity – a thirst for knowledge and understanding so powerful that one is willing to risk appearing foolish in the pursuit of its quenching.
In the mix of ignorance and curiosity, I think there is a corollary with education and wisdom. There are many highly educated people that think they are wise. Ignorance, education and aptitude are equal without understanding. There is a missing element that moves, motivates, inspires, and in short gives meaning to what we perceive. Ignorance has no perception. Aptitude doesn't presuppose comprehension and fools have no discernment. The Book of Mormon teaches it this way:
ReplyDelete“..O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men! When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. ”