Knowledge ignorance

Is the title of this column an oxymoron? According to Wikipedia , an oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines two normally contradictory terms. I would like to argue that my title is not an oxymoron.

In the field of the science or study of knowledge or epistemology, there is a concept in perennial knowledge philosophy called ‘the hierarchy of knowledge’.

By this, in very simple terms and as applied in the field of information science, we mean the hierarchy of data, information, knowledge and then wisdom. Often pictured as a wisdom triangle the peak is labelled ‘wisdom’.

Now what is this hierarchy and what are the nuances of this hierarchy for life and living? We do not have to go far to learn. Malaysian life is colourful enough to allow us to learn, unlearn and relearn this hierarchy if we have the head and the heart to learn.

In a previous column, I wrote that the prime minister needs wisdom to govern this nation under our system of constitutional and parliamentary democracy, and also if he is aware of the nuances and differences between leadership and mere management. Our system is more than an American a la constitutional democracy model. We are not republican because we have constitutional monarchs.

Unlike Australia, our constitutional monarch is not the Queen of England but our home-grown system of Raja-raja Tanah Melayu for nine states that make up the ‘Federation of United States of Malaysia’. India which is another republic, did away with Maharajas.

Under our former prime minister, we have anthropomorphised our Malay rulers or brought them down to earth, but this was still done based on our system of constitutional democracy and a constitutional monarchy and the rule of law.

The only problem was that much of this and many other changes of the Federal Constitution were done with a so-called two-thirds majority syndrome. A syndrome is any ‘theological-type belief in a personal and experiential truth which may not be a total or complete truth’.

As much as the current premier needs wisdom to govern this country with only a simple majority, his ministers and supporters need equal wisdom to understand and explain issues to all the people who voted with wisdom in the last general election – unless of course, one believes that all the people are stupid all the time.

There are some very bright people out there who are still in denial about what happened in the elections. Wisdom may elude even the best of people in Malaysia – wisdom, like the Lady Wisdom found in the proverbial literature of sacred texts, needs to be sought after and can only be found when God gifts it to individuals.

Knowledge is different; one can develop knowledge in any subject matter if we take an interest in learning. For example, a good friend of mine has such a technical interest in any subject that once he starts learning, he is sure to end up fully knowledgeable about that subject. He will both study and do it.

Therefore, one can have a positive attitude to learning and can master any subject matter until one acquires knowledge or at least complete information. But, there is a more important question: is knowledge the same as having ‘information in the head’ about a subject? Put another way, is almost total or complete information about a subject equal to knowledge?

It is here that I have to introduce the word, ‘gnosis’ or the root word for ‘knowledge’ in Greek. In the Greek understanding of the world, to have gnosis is to not only have information and knowledge of the subject but also the ability to do something with it.

Therefore knowledge must lead to action, presumably for problem-solving related to issues of life and living. Information without knowledge is puffed-up pride which cannot solve any real problems in life, but may only enable us to talk about things.

Lack of knowledge

Ignorance, or ignosis is the lack of knowledge. Therefore, one could argue that ‘knowledge ignorance’ is about knowledge that recognises what one knows and equally, what one does not know. For it is said, ‘he who knows not and knows not he knows not is a fool’.

We have many fools trying to run this country. When I was working for an organisation some time ago I was forced to write a paper on ‘uninformed ignorance’ to inform and educate those who did not know about life and living and how to solve problems with an attitude of decency and courtesy.

In life, sometimes and maybe always, fools get to rule. Therefore, the challenge of every Malaysian who voted for change is to ensure that fools do not ever rule again. Or at least to ensure arrogance in ruler-ship does not rear its ugly head again! Ever.

Democracy is never the best model for godly or wise governance but frankly, I do not think we have a better model of governance on earth. We just need to find the wisdom and knowledge to govern wisely. And, if we know that we do not have the wisdom and knowledge to govern with responsibility and ability, we need equal wisdom to find the right people to become the advisers.

It always takes humility to admit the need for advisers and, more often than not, all governance systems assume that leaders need such assistance. But it is not a good manager who lacks wisdom, and yet relies on weak or poor advisers!

As I have written before, my university professor of Emeritus rank who studied the psychological and social profile of disabled leaders found that ‘disability sets in’ when advisers start giving poor or inaccurate advice.

Who were the premier’s advisers on the calling of the general election? One minister has said “we cannot put all the blame on the PM because there were many factors beyond his control”.

This implies that the technology-related factors in the elections were unknown to the PM. Really? I have to say that the minister has ‘knowledge ignorance’ and does not know what he is talking about.

In 1996, it was because of ‘technology convergence’ that the prime minister recognised the importance of the ‘Internetworked age’ and concurred with Kenichi Ohmae that we need the Multimedia Super Corridor to spearhead Malaysia’s move into the Knowledge Era.

Rather unfortunately though, ‘knowledge ignorance’ in not limited to ministers, but also among those who appear to be very smart. It is said that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. I would argue otherwise: that power is made perfect in weakness of humility and not in the power of arrogance.

Dear prime minister, you can still become the PM of all Malaysians. Just do what you have promised and what is right, good and true. After all the same 92 percent who gave you the previous mandate and believed your promises can become your followers again.

Please take me seriously and do not believe your advisers who have ‘knowledge ignorance’. Make your ‘Gettysburg Address’ at the opening session of Parliament. If you get a standing ovation, you would on the hearts of all our representatives and will be on the journey of wise leadership. May God Bless Malaysia.