In the previous Let's Talk About, I have (literally) talked about logic. In the concluding part, I have written about more knowledge can help to improve knowledge. But, this is just partly right. There are different forms of knowledge. And we will have to learn the right knowledge.
The Good Knowledge and The Bad Knowledge
Knowledge is not born equal (much like humans). Some of them are deemed to be more valuable to others.
For example, knowing water boils at 100 degrees Celcius is knowledge. But does it help you make meaningful actions? If you are someone working closely with fluid dynamics, it might be helpful for you. But for someone working in the arts industry, this knowledge is less so.
The helpfulness of knowledge depends on the area or industry that you need to apply the knowledge on. To define the helpfulness of knowledge, it is time to go back to logic.
Knowledge and Logic
Logic builds on knowledge. Because we know that water boils at 100 degrees Celcius, human heat water to change it into steam.
When an industrial process required steam to perform a specific function, the logic of an engineer shall go through his knowledge in boiling water and apply it to the design of the machinery.
Therefore, to define if knowledge is helpful, you need to consider if the knowledge you gain is helpful to your current work.
More knowledge in different fields not only builds your ability in logical thinking but also being someone who can work in multiple industries (a characteristic that many companies are looking for).
Determining the usefulness of knowledge
In the current era of questioning news legitimacy, the first step to determine if knowledge is useful is its source. It is important to note "don't trust a source even if it is known to be trustworthy." Even a trusty news editor can make mistakes (editors are humans too, and humans are flawed). Always think and rethink if a piece of information is correct.
Determining if a new piece of information is valid on its own is a mix of logic and previous knowledge. Does this new information contradict what you know in the past? Does this new information sound right to you? Can you find the reason and results for this new information? These are all simple questions to ask yourself before trusting any new information.
It is tiring, I know. But in this world of rapid information flow and mixed information sources, we cannot be 100% sure of who is posting accurate information. Even if the information is fact-checked, the validation is performed by humans as well, not to mention that fact-checking organizations are only certified with their previous track record on validating news.
If you find a piece of knowledge that seemed trustworthy to you, consider the possible ways you can use it. Not all information that you receive today can be used tomorrow. But when you have more knowledge, you will find information easier to apply in your logical reasoning.
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