The Virtues of Ignorance: Complexity, Sustainability, and the Limits of Knowledge (Culture of the Land)

Human dependence on technology has increased exponentially over the past several centuries, and so too has the notion that we can fix environmental problems with scientific applications. The Virtues of Ignorance: Complexity, Sustainability, and the Limits of Knowledge proposes an alternative to this hubristic, shortsighted, and dangerous worldview. The contributors argue that uncritical faith in scientific knowledge has created many of the problems now threatening the planet and that our wholesale reliance on scientific progress is both untenable and myopic. Bill Vitek, Wes Jackson, and a diverse group of thinkers, including Wendell Berry, Anna Peterson, and Robert Root-Bernstein, offer profound arguments for the advantages of an ignorance-based worldview. Their essays explore this philosophy from numerous perspectives, including its origins, its essence, and how its implementation can preserve vital natural resources for posterity. All conclude that we must simply accept the proposition that our ignorance far exceeds our knowledge and always will. Rejecting the belief that science and technology are benignly at the service of society, the authors argue that recognizing ignorance might be the only path to reliable knowledge. They also uncover an interesting paradox: knowledge and insight accumulate fastest in the minds of those who hold an ignorance-based worldview, for by examining the alternatives to a technology-based culture, they expand their imaginations. Demonstrating that knowledge-based worldviews are more dangerous than useful, The Virtues of Ignorance looks closely at the relationship between the land and the future generations who will depend on it. The authors argue that we can never improve upon nature but that we can, by putting this new perspective to work in our professional and personal lives, live sustainably on Earth.

human Dependence On Technology Has Increased Exponentially Over The Past Several Centuries, And So Too Has The Notion That We Can Fix Environmental Problems With Scientific Applications. The Virtues Of Ignorance: Complexity, Sustainability, And The Limits Of Knowledge Proposes An Alternative To This Hubristic, Shortsighted, And Dangerous Worldview. The Contributors Argue That Uncritical Faith In Scientific Knowledge Has Created Many Of The Problems Now Threatening The Planet And That Our Wholesale Reliance On Scientific Progress Is Both Untenable And Myopic.

bill Vitek, Wes Jackson, And A Diverse Group Of Thinkers, Including Wendell Berry, Anna Peterson, And Robert Root-bernstein, Offer Profound Arguments For The Advantages Of An Ignorance-based Worldview. Their Essays Explore This Philosophy From Numerous Perspectives, Including Its Origins, Its Essence, And How Its Implementation Can Preserve Vital Natural Resources For Posterity. All Conclude That We Must Simply Accept The Proposition That Our Ignorance Far Exceeds Our Knowledge And Always Will.

rejecting The Belief That Science And Technology Are Benignly At The Service Of Society, The Authors Argue That Recognizing Ignorance Might Be The Only Path To Reliable Knowledge. They Also Uncover An Interesting Paradox: Knowledge And Insight Accumulate Fastest In The Minds Of Those Who Hold An Ignorance-based Worldview, For By Examining The Alternatives To A Technology-based Culture, They Expand Their Imaginations.

demonstrating That Knowledge-based Worldviews Are More Dangerous Than Useful, The Virtues Of Ignorance Looks Closely At The Relationship Between The Land And The Future Generations Who Will Depend On It. The Authors Argue That We Can Never Improve Upon Nature But That We Can, By Putting This New Perspective To Work In Our Professional And Personal Lives, Live Sustainably On Earth.

bill Vitek Is Associate Professor Of Philosophy At Clarkson University. He Has Published Three Books, Including Promising, Rooted In The Land: Essays On Community And Place And Applying Philosophy.

Toward an ignorance-based worldview / Wes Jackson The way of ignorance / Wendell Berry Ignorance, an inner perspective / Robert Perry Human ignorance and the limited use of history / Richard D. Lamm Ignorance and know-how / Conn Nugent Optimizing uncertainty / Raymond H. Dean Toward an ecological conversation / Steve Talbott Ignorance and ethics / Anna L. Peterson Imposed ignorance and humble ignorance: two worldviews / Paul G. Heltne Battle for the soul of ignorance: rhetoric and philosophy in classical Athens / Charles Marsh Choosing ignorance within a learning universe / Peter G. Brown The path of enlightened ignorance: Alfred North Whitehead and Ernst Mayr / Strachan Donnelley Joyful ignorance and the civic mind / Bill Vitek I don't know / Robert Root-Bernstein Lessons learned from ignorance: the curriculum on medical (and other) ignorance / Marlys Hearst Witte ... [et al.] Economics and the promotion of ignorance-squared / Herb Thompson Educating for ignorance / Jon Jensen Climate change and the limits of knowledge / Joe Marocco Can we see with fresh eyes? beyond a culture of abstraction / Craig Holdrege. Human dependence on technology has increased exponentially over the past several centuries, along with the notion that environmental problems can be solved with scientific applications. The Virtues of Ignorance: Complexity, Sustainability, and the Limits of Knowledge proposes an alternative to this hubristic, shortsighted, and dangerous worldview. The contributors offer profound arguments for the advantages of an ignorance-based worldview. Examining the relationship between the land and the future generations who will depend on it, they propose that, while we cannot improve upon nature, by put Bill Vitek, Wes Jackson, and a diverse group of thinkers ... offer profound arguments for the advantages of an ignorance-based worldview. Their essays explore this philosophy form numerous perspectives, including its origins, its essence, and how its implementation can preserve vital natural resources for posterity. All conclude that we must simply accept the proposition that our ignorance far exceeds our knowledge and always will