The Importance of Gaining Knowledge Essay - 838 Words

The phrase â€Å"Knowledge is Power† is carved into the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Inside one can find artifacts from centuries past and present. Throughout the many rooms divided by time periods and world powers, there are numerous relics depicting the differences between class systems and how knowledge has increased throughout the ages. The increase of knowledge can be linked to the success and power of each world power. Likewise, books highlight these same differences and link learning and knowledge to freedom and success. There are also many examples that concentrate on the connection between social class and the ability to gain knowledge. In the â€Å"Land of Opportunity†, James W. Loewen emphasizes the tie between class†¦show more content†¦Similarly, the Count of Monte Cristo was in a lower social class and unjustly imprisoned. But, while in prison, he was able to increase his range of knowledge. He considered the knowledge he w as gaining as a treasure even more valuable than monetary possessions. He says, â€Å"My real treasure is†¦the rays of intelligence you [the Abbà ©] have elicited from my brain† (Dumas 221). In both cases, Douglass and the Count of Monte Cristo compared knowledge to something as necessary as bread, or valuable as treasure. They focus on knowledge as the means to escape, which inadvertently gave each of them power. Their individual determination and desire to use power from knowledge gave them the strength to defy the social barriers and succeed. This contrasts to the idea Loewen emphasizes when saying, â€Å"Social class is probably the single most important variable in society† (Loewen 203). A desire to use knowledge to gain power, which can then be used in beneficial ways, plays another role in resisting social barriers. Power can be a dangerous thing at times. Throughout the centuries, there have been many individuals with vast knowledge and power. But, as the artifacts in the Metropolitan Museum of Art show, not all have used their power in beneficial ways. History attests to that detail, and has shown much power has been used to create social classes in the first place. Loewen agrees with this claim and notes that history textbooks intentionally leave thisShow MoreRelatedThe Importance Of Ancient Literature700 Words   |  3 Pagesmanifested during the Warring States period (circa 475 -221 BCE). Confucius’s conviction that the political chaos he perceived around him could be avoided by returning to the moral values of the founders of the Zhou Dynasty. â€Å"His emphasis on the importance of social roles and rituals could reinforce existing hierarchies, but at the same time it allowed individuals to develop their inner potential and find a meaningful place in society† (p.1132). 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