What lies at the two ends of knowledge?

While reading last night, I came across this little nugget that reminded me of CK's recent post on marketers being blind to reality, and Jim Stroup's series on the relationship between competence and knowledge.

"The nations...cling to their opinions as much from pride as from conviction. They cherish them because they hold them to be just and because they chose them of their own free will; and they adhere to them, not only because they are true, but because they are their own... It was remarked by a man of genius that 'ignorance lies at the two ends of knowledge.' Perhaps it would have been more correct to say that strong convictions are found only at the two ends, and that doubt lies in the middle." - Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America

Even, or perhaps especially, at the two extremes, we must be willing to seek evidence and test hypotheses, and allow the results to inform and enlighten us. If we do not hold greater affection for the process than the outcome, then we can never satisfactorily break free from our own prejudices.

Consequently, any random success we might experience can be attributed more to blind luck and our skills of persuasion than the rightness of our cause. - Cam Beck

Comments

[jen_chan, writer SureFireWealth.com]

Well now, this certainly is a very thought-provoking post. Pride and conviction, although 2 separate concepts, can easily blend with another. In the heat of the moment, people mistake one for the other and this can prove to have devastating consequences.

[Cam Beck]

Jen - Great point.

Alexis de Tocqueville can always be counted on for great content. The biggest struggle was picking out just one to highlight. :)

[Jim Stroup]

Cam,

Thanks for the nice reference, of course, but especially for a really sharp post. "Democracy in America" is one of those timeless pieces just filled with brilliant quotes and breathtaking insight - still an enjoyable and worthwhile read that rings true to Americans who are superficially so different from the ones he observed.

Speaking of great quotes, here's one for you: "... any random success we might experience can be attributed more to blind luck and our skills of persuasion than the rightness of our cause." The pairing of random success with blind luck is an article waiting to be written, a semester of lectures waiting to be given - what a great tonic for students and practitioners in an age of self-celebratory hubris!

Thanks!