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Ignorance

            Ignorance is a condition that needs to be overcome because we must understand that this reality is not all that there is. We do not want to live in a limited world. Realizing this concept of an illusory world helps us to gain insight toward the metaphysical. The Upanishad belief in the idea of Maya illustrates this world that we live in. The appearances are all we can perceive in our limited world. To overcome this state of illusory existence, we must experience something beyond time and history. This paper will focus on the notion of the metaphysical and further explain its importance with use of examples from the Tiger Story. .
             The idea of overcoming ignorance is important because knowledge can have powerful life changing potential. Knowledge of a world greater then one that is perceived can also be satisfying. Since according to Upanishad belief, this world that we live in is not real, knowing that there is a higher level of existence proves to be a great discovery. It is better to have knowledge of an existence of a world that we do not know then to be ignorant of it. We can console ourselves from believing that there is something greater then what we have now. .
             The Tiger Story shows the limited level of existence while living with the goats. Metaphysically the life of the tiger was similar to our own life according to Upanishads. We live a life similar to that of the tiger's while inhabited amongst the goats. Living a limiting life with the goats caused the tiger to be thin and meek. Like this, we too are meek when we live in this world of illusion. Sometimes we feel disappointment and anger when we are so involved in this world, like the tiger had difficulty when he tried to eat the grass with his sharp teeth. The tiger didn't know that he didn't fit in that society of goats. That illustrates to us that we don't fit in this Maya. That is why the eastern philosophers thought there is another world that we could fit into.


Essays Related to Ignorance

1. Ignorance is Different than Stupidity

... of stupidity. Such a vast topic with endless subject matter, yet, accurate and informative resources are scarce - an ironic coincidence? In general, people commonly grasp more stupidity than they are aware. Ignorance, by definition, can be a destitute of knowledge or education. Often times, this goes unnoticed, because when people don't know about a specific subject, things "pass off" as alright. A famous ... quote that dates as far back as Socrates" is, "ignorance is bliss". This is fundamentally true in all aspects, as people are comfortable being ignorant. By being uninformed of cert...

  • Word Count: 405
  • Approx Pages: 2
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2. Socratic Ignorance

... out why Socrates would want to make such a claim, so other examples of his proclamations of ignorance must be examined. One of the most explanatory statements Socrates makes to justify his claim of ignorance is also found in The Apology. He is telling the story of how, after receiving the news ... nature of being honourable and good, to which the man provides no satisfactory answer. Afterwards, when Socrates ponders the conversation, we see the true nature of his ignorance: " quite possibly neither of us knows anything about being honourable and good. But he imagines he knows when he does...

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3. Abuse and Ignorance in the Institution of Slavery

... themes as readers struggle through Douglass' difficult words, from the physical, mental, sexual abuse that served as a bind of slavery to the use of ignorance slave-owners would employ against their slaves. Abuse was not uncommon towards slaves on the nineteenth century and was used as a method of suppression. Frederick ... of theirs," Douglass commented, "and it is the wish of most masters within my knowledge to keep their slaves thus ignorant" This imposed ignorance deprives children of their natural sense of personal identity. As slave children grow older, slave owners and even state...

  • Word Count: 1524
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4. The Confederate Flag: An Inspiration to Ignorance

... South Carolina capital, the NAACP called for a boycott of tourism in the state, costing South Carolina tens of thousands in potential revenue. It seems hypocritical that these people are fighting ignorance, and are ignorant themselves as to what the flag actually means. The Confederacy was formed because the Southern states felt that their rights were being trampled upon by the federal ... flag, which men of all color lived and died for, has been reduced to a symbol of racism and white supremacy in the eyes of the general public. Ignorance is the cause of all of this. Ignorance is the r...

  • Word Count: 614
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5. Fidel Castro Lashes Out at Republican Party Presidential Candidates

Former Cuban President, Fidel Castro, berated the US Republican Party presidential candidates for their "idiocy and ignorance" after they announced their intentions to bring freedom to Cuba upon election. Just days before the Republican Party's primary in Florida - a state that many Cuban Americans call home - the Cuba ... that globalized imperialist reign" (Williams). "The selection of a Republican candidate for the presidency of this globalized and expansive empire is - and I mean this seriously - the greatest competition of idiocy and ignorance that has ever been," wrote Castro. The Repub...

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6. Lear's Spiritual Journey From Ignorance to Insight.

... Regan by giving the kingdom to them; he has relinquished his power and left himself defenseless against his daughters. Many characters in the play see the king's misjudgment, yet Lear's ignorance and determination to punish Cordelia for humiliating him in front of his kingdom and her rejection of his need for glorification stop him from heeding any given warnings. Kent is ... . Lear's journey has come to a climax, as at the end of the play he has shown that he cares more about Cordelia's life than his own. Lear's journey from the ignorance of a pampered and self-centered king, through su...

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7. Ignorance is bliss

There is a common phrase that is said in society today: ignorance is bliss. It is ironic, that after thousands of years of human exploration and the never-ending strive for knowledge, that people would say that. Some people choose to not ... ...

  • Word Count: 1191
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  • Grade Level: High School

8. The Tragedy of Ignorance

The Tragedy of Ignorance Twenty years ago a tragedy was developing in a small community that would probably have been avoided today. An intelligent, loving, and caring woman started to exhibit strange behaviors. She was a wonderful ... ...

  • Word Count: 518
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9. Hocus Pocus by Kurt Vonnegut

... the effects of joining the military and only cared about the looks of it. The only thing Hartke ever wanted to do was overthrow ignorance. Unfortunately that was seen differently to those around him. When Hartke resigned his commission in 1975 he became the physics professor at Tarkington College ... depressed. During their conversation Wilder refers to the sign Hartke put up in the library of the school "The Complicated Futility of Ignorance"(127). This sign was put above ten perpetual-motion machines that were created by Elias Tarkington. Tarkington was unable to get the machines ... ...

  • Word Count: 2053
  • Approx Pages: 8
  • Grade Level: High School

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