Little knowledge dangerous or too much?

"Little knowledge, "they say, "is a dangerous thing." But is the reverse true too?

Does knowing too much sometime harmful?

One of my uncles has been ill in India for over 2 months now. He had an undiagnosed fever and some other symptoms. My sister, who also happens to be a doc, and I had been suspecting something serious right form the beginning. We had pored over all available information and discussed his symptoms at length. We fumed and fretted and feared the worst while he was cheerfully undergoing a battery of tests. A recent test has indicated that our fears might just be true. While he and his family are still blissfully unaware of the diagnosis (a couple of test results are still awaited) I have already started worrying about his future suffering…

Like they say "where ignorance is bliss it is folly to be wise"…so we haven't really had the heart to discuss our fears with anyone in his family yet.

A situation like this may not really be in context of the topic but it was what got me started....well.. taking it in to another tangent

Does knowing too much harm one self? After all...

Too much knowledge in a subject may make one arrogant Too much knowledge/ expertise may bore someone who is constantly working in the same field Too much knowledge and involvement in a subject may make you obsessive- haven't you head of the "crazy scientist" or "the genius bordering on madness"
• Too much knowledge in a subject may make you unable to relate to relatively ignorant people – ever sat in a classroom where the teacher is supposed to be an academic star but what he says just goes beyond you?

One example from Bollywood that comes to mind Nasseruddin Shah- he is an absolute master of his art but the "less intellectual" commercial cinema frustrated him and he became quite a skeptic..

Ignorance is bliss.. Yes but not always. If I am going through some serious medical problem then I would like to know what exactly has happened to me or for that matter to any of my family member and take the situation from there on. I also feel that half knowledge is very dangerous.

Too much knowledge sometimes affect the thinking power as the person thinks that I know it all and therefore mentally blocks any kind of information related to the subject which would enhance his knowledge further. Too much knowledge of a subject can be misused by a person to his own advantage. Some persons brag about their knowledge to make others feel inferior. So, yes too much knowledge in a person can make a person boastful, arrogant and braggy.

Though there are some people who inspite of their vast knowledge in a particular subject try and educate others and make aware of facts when asked for. Finally it depends upon each individual how he/she acts upon his knowledge.

Originally posted by: TallyHo

"Little knowledge, "they say, "is a dangerous thing." But is the reverse true too?

Does knowing too much sometime harmful?

One of my uncles has been ill in India for over 2 months now. He had an undiagnosed fever and some other symptoms. My sister, who also happens to be a doc, and I had been suspecting something serious right form the beginning. We had pored over all available information and discussed his symptoms at length. We fumed and fretted and feared the worst while he was cheerfully undergoing a battery of tests. A recent test has indicated that our fears might just be true. While he and his family are still blissfully unaware of the diagnosis (a couple of test results are still awaited) I have already started worrying about his future suffering…

Like they say "where ignorance is bliss it is folly to be wise"…so we haven't really had the heart to discuss our fears with anyone in his family yet.

A situation like this may not really be in context of the topic but it was what got me started....well.. taking it in to another tangent

Does knowing too much harm one self? After all...

• Too much knowledge in a subject may make one arrogant .

Not in all the cases! My Sir is an excellent person! Very modest ,very helpful and he teaches complex things in a simple manner!

• Too much knowledge/ expertise may bore someone who is constantly working in the same field

Depends on the attitude of the person! If one updates himself/herself! Nothing is static!😳

• Too much knowledge and involvement in a subject may make you obsessive- haven't you head of the "crazy scientist" or "the genius bordering on madness"

Depends on the person! Only half baked /half knowledged people are boring!!! Excellence of any person in any field depends on conveying the concept in a simple manner!

• Too much knowledge in a subject may make you unable to relate to relatively ignorant people – ever sat in a classroom where the teacher is supposed to be an academic star but what he says just goes beyond you?

Oh! I don't agree! Only half knowledged foolish lecturers make the simple things complex! Learnt people increase the complexity in simple steps!But the diffiult task is to make things simple and only people with more knowledge can simplify it!

BTW "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication😆." as said by leanardo da vinci!

One example from Bollywood that comes to mind Nasseruddin Shah- he is an absolute master of his art but the "less intellectual" commercial cinema frustrated him and he became quite a skeptic..

Originally posted by: chatbuster

i think both can be dangerous, and you have already given some good situations for too much knowledge being dangerous. here's another example-

we acquire knowledge through education, making it more likely for us to get good jobs. but as soon as we get those jobs, we fall into a comfort zone, and dont find it worthwhile to experiment or take risk. ironically, people with no knowledge sometimes feel they have no option, so they take risk and occasionally become successful and reach their full potential more than the one with knowledge does.

so while on average little knowledge can be a more dangerous situation as is generally thought of, there are situations as in above where the converse is true. trick i think is to not get into that comfort zone and to be still willing to experiment, learn and take risks.

totally agree to that...afterall knowledge is endless and getting into a mode where you think you already know enough can be dangerous and detrimental to your growth!

Originally posted by: chatbuster

i think both can be dangerous, and you have already given some good situations for too much knowledge being dangerous. here's another example-

we acquire knowledge through education, making it more likely for us to get good jobs. but as soon as we get those jobs, we fall into a comfort zone, and dont find it worthwhile to experiment or take risk. ironically, people with no knowledge sometimes feel they have no option, so they take risk and occasionally become successful and reach their full potential more than the one with knowledge does.

so while on average little knowledge can be a more dangerous situation as is generally thought of, there are situations as in above where the converse is true. trick i think is to not get into that comfort zone and to be still willing to experiment, learn and take risks.

Ashu, I read this post earlier and pondered on it for two days. I didn't know how to approach it. That is why I didn't respond.

Rahul made it easy for me😃. I concur with his thoughts.

Originally posted by: Maya_M

Ashu, I read this post earlier and pondered on it for two days. I didn't know how to approach it. That is why I didn't respond.

Rahul made it easy for me😃. I concur with his thoughts.