I am the way,
the truth and the life….
The most
important egoist – that’s Me!
Knowledge and
cooperation are the two most important tools that the individual has to survive
and succeed.
Knowledge –
for obvious reasons – to be able to achieve his or her dreams, satisfy desires
and learn how to yearn for more.
Cooperation
for the same reasons – plus to disincentivize other people from encroaching on
one’s life, freedom and the pursuit of happiness.
There is a
story about a Chinese emperor who was the wisest person because he could learn
something even from the dumbest person he met. And the dumbest person was dumb
due to being unable to learn even from the wisest emperor.
Knowledge
not only provides the means to achieve one’s goals but also clues on how to do
that easier, lazier, more efficient – it teaches us shortcuts.
But there
is irrelevant knowledge some would say – like astronomy, for example.
That may
seem so.
But when Neanderthals
were competing with our ancestors for a place in the future – we won because we were more creative. The Neanderthals
were bigger stronger and only engaged in inventing new tools when those tools seemed
to obviously bring some immediate advantage. They also had art and possibly
rudimentary faith. But we – had more – better art, stronger faith, more curious
minds and that’s why we survived and they didn’t. That’s why we need astronomy,
rock music, comedy and all the other good but seemingly useless stuff that we
do and enjoy.
And yes
knowledge gives us the idea of shortcuts and one of the most useful shortcuts
is to exploit your neighbor. Doesn’t seem ethical but it works.
