My theory on the origin of stupidity in general

Kuroneko · Post by **Kuroneko** » 2003-04-03 11:40am

I define ignorance as simply lack of knowledge on a topic, i.e. a lack of information. It is usually correctable; unless coupled with stupidity it is seldom a serious problem.

Post by **haas mark** » 2003-04-03 11:41am

Kuroneko wrote:I define ignorance as simply lack of knowledge on a topic, i.e. a lack of information. It is usually correctable; unless coupled with stupidity it is seldom a serious problem.

No... lack of knowledge is just that - lack of knowledge (naïveté).

Ignorance is being given the information (or sense) and not using it, or refusing to use it. Look at fundies, for a prime example.

Kuroneko · Post by **Kuroneko** » 2003-04-03 11:51am

verilon wrote:No... lack of knowledge is just that - lack of knowledge (naïveté)... Ignorance is being given the information (or sense) and not using it, or refusing to use it. Look at fundies, for a prime example.

That's not the usage I've encountered. Naïveté is being uncritical of the information given, an excess of credulity due to inexperience.
Fundamentalists are willfully ignorant--they're ignorant, and they want to stay that way. Generally, being ignorant per se does not necessitate that one does not examine and assimilate new information.

Then again, what do I know? English isn't even my first language.

Post by **haas mark** » 2003-04-03 11:53am

From what I have learned, naïve is only being unknowing. [shrugs]

Zoink · Post by **Zoink** » 2003-04-03 01:36pm

Dictionary.com to the rescue!

ig·no·rance
n.
The condition of being uneducated, unaware, or uninformed.

na·ive or na·ïve
adj.
Lacking worldly experience and understanding, especially:
Simple and guileless; artless: a child with a naive charm.
Unsuspecting or credulous: “Students, often bright but naive, betand losesubstantial sums of money on sporting events” (Tim Layden).
Showing or characterized by a lack of sophistication and critical judgment: “this extravagance of metaphors, with its naive bombast” (H.L. Mencken).

Not previously subjected to experiments: testing naive mice.
Not having previously taken or received a particular drug: persons naive to marijuana.

n.
One who is artless, credulous, or uncritical.

Post by **haas mark** » 2003-04-03 01:39pm

Okay, so I was wrong on the def. of naive. But ignorance is not well-defined on Dictionay.com.

Raoul Duke, Jr. · Post by **Raoul Duke, Jr.** » 2003-04-03 04:26pm

No, it isn't, at that. In fact, the definitions appear to be nearly identical, except that naivete adds the characteristic of credulity.

But the definition given by d.c is etymologically incorrect, at least, as we can almost certainly define "ignorance" as a "state of ignoring".

Perhaps the better definition is ignorance, then, is "A state in which one refuses to receive relevant information for action."

An interesting saying this reminds me of:

"One who won't believe it until he sees it is a skeptic. One who won't believe it when he sees it is a fool. One who refuses to see it because he doesn't want to believe it is a jackass."

Post by **haas mark** » 2003-04-03 05:17pm

Raoul Duke, Jr. wrote:No, it isn't, at that. In fact, the definitions appear to be nearly identical, except that naivete adds the characteristic of credulity.

But the definition given by d.c is etymologically incorrect, at least, as we can almost certainly define "ignorance" as a "state of ignoring".

Perhaps the better definition is ignorance, then, is "A state in which one refuses to receive relevant information for action."

An interesting saying this reminds me of:

"One who won't believe it until he sees it is a skeptic. One who won't believe it when he sees it is a fool. One who refuses to see it because he doesn't want to believe it is a jackass."

Or a fundie. (in the last case)