Sharon Scott
Carolyn Fridley MBS
English 1213
02 December 2013
Ignorance or Knowledge
Most individuals are faced with the choice of either staying ignorant or obtaining knowledge. In Plato’s “The Allegory of the Cave” a man is dragged from the darkness (ignorance) into the light (knowledge). (Plato) In most cases people are able to teach themselves or be taught through formal education. People can learn in a variety of ways. Refusing to learn what one can will limit opportunities in many ways. Any knowledge gained in any way will help improve one’s self-awareness and the awareness of the people, things and events happening around them.
Choosing to be ignorant simply means that you stop yourself from learning. (Choiniere) Most people are born with the potential for learning, some are self taught, some seek formal education. “All men by nature desire to know” (qtd. in Magee) and this gives people the curiosity to learn more. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization states that more people will graduate with a bachelor’s degree than ever before within the next 30 years. There are universities all over the world where people can go to learn. On the other hand “We’re drowning in information and starving for knowledge” (qtd. in Magee) because recent high school graduates and anyone wanting to obtain knowledge can educate themselves using the internet to earn degrees. These individuals have the drive to learn and work while motivating themselves. (Luke) There are people who can’t attend higher education facilities for many reasons but still strive to learn more. Malcolm X is just one of these highly motivated people. In “A Homemade Education” a small bibliography written by Malcolm X: He taught himself how to read along with any knowledge he could get his hands on while he was incarcerated in prison. (X) There are people with learning disabilities; these people although handicapped still have a potential to learn and obtain...