[知識的產生]
知識來自面對事實，來自細心的觀察，
來自一個開放的胸懷，來自對真理的謙卑，
來自對真理的尊重，對非真理及半真理的歧視，
來自對群體智慧的尊重，對愚昧的歧視，
來自去蕪存菁的態度，來自鍥而不捨的實驗研究，
來自無數心裡的疑問、猜想和假說，
來自小圈子裡謹慎的思考、互相激勵和互相批判。
We knew that the Earth was flat
we knew that we were the center of the universe,
and we knew that a manmade heavier than air
piece of machinery could not take flight.
Through all stages of human history, intellectual
authorities have pronounced their supremacy by
ridiculing or suppressing elements of reality
that simply didn’t fit within the(ir) framework
of accepted knowledge.
Are we really any different today？
Have we really changed our acceptance
towards things that won’t fit the frame？
Maybe there are concepts of our reality
we have yet to understand,
and if we open our eyes maybe we will see
that something significant has been overlooked.
( Terje Toftenes )
[甚麼是知識]
關於甚麼是「知識」，甚麼不是「知識」，
到目前為止，筆者的認知如下：
☆ 知識是合理的信念
知識至少能夠是一個「信念」justified belief，
最好當然能夠是一個「信仰」faith！
☆ 知識必須符合觀察和事實
任何可靠的知識，皆接受不斷出現的觀察和事實的挑戰
Acceptance of facts is a necessary condition of knowledge，
所以任何未經證實的資訊 information，不一定是知識。
Data is not information,
information is not knowledge,
knowledge is not understanding,
understanding is not wisdom.
( Clifford Stoll )
☆ 可靠的知識以接近真理為目標
任何可靠的知識，皆是以接近真理為目標
Reliable knowledge has truth as its goal，
所以口齒伶俐的意見 opinion，不一定是知識。
I was bold in the pursuit of knowledge,
never fearing to follow truth and reason
to whatever results they led,
and bearding every authority which stood in their way.
( Thomas Jefferson )
Philosophy begins with the understanding that
you cannot just observe or experience and then
report what you see, because how you conceptualize
and symbolize alters experience.
( Eugene Gendlin )
In philosophy, the concepts with which we approach
the world themselves become the topic of inquiry.
A philosophy of a discipline such as history, physics,
or law seeks not so much to solve historical,
physical, or legal questions, as to study the concepts
that structure such thinking, and to lay bare their
foundations and presuppositions.
( S. Blackburn, The Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, 2005 )
☆ 知識永遠是「比上不足，比下有餘」
人類擁有的知識永遠比不上人類的無知，
所以「謎」wonder and mystery 永遠存在。
The only wisdom we can hope to acquire
Is the wisdom of humility : humility is endless.
( T.S. Eliot )
Knowledge is proud that it knows so much;
wisdom is humble that it knows no more.
( William Cowper )
Chris Anderson
Questions no one knows the answers to
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SWvDHvWXok
☆ 可靠的知識必然擁抱批判
任何可靠的知識，必然擁抱批判 open to criticism；
任何經不起批判或者拒絕批判，而自稱為事實的，
不一定是知識。
Beware of false knowledge;
it is more dangerous than ignorance.
( George Bernard Shaw )
He who knows nothing is closer to the truth than
he whose mind is filled with falsehoods and errors.
( Thomas Jefferson )
Whoever undertakes to set himself up
as a judge of Truth and Knowledge
is shipwrecked by the laughter of the gods.
( Albert Einstein )
☆ 學習知識有三部曲
「智」字上面是一個「知」字，
表示知識是智力的基礎，對培育智力非常重要；
「智」字下面是一個「日」字，
表示知識日新月異，需要不斷地追求──
不斷地學習，不斷地更新，不斷地重新學習。
然而知識不但日新月異，而且不斷增加，浩如煙海。
「吾生也有涯，而知也無涯。以有涯隨無涯殆已！」
《莊子。養生主》
所以我們學習知識，需要知道有三部曲：
首先，必須判斷甚麼是真知識，甚麼是偽知識；
其次，是判斷「甚麼是生命中必須擁有的知識」
和「甚麼是趁年青時必須學習的知識」；
再其次，才是學習和謀生有關的知識。
如果我們不懂得這個和先後次序有關的三部曲，
只懂得十分勤力，每天不斷學習新知識，
往往只是不斷在山腰的某一高度努力圍著圈子走。
雖然這也是一種進步，但只是量方面的進步。
可惜大部份人心目中的所謂「終身學習」，
就只不過是這個境界！