Definition Essay On Ignorance

Ignorance is bliss. Without the clutter and finality of knowledge, this idiom claims that even the fear of the unknown is trivial compared to the freedom of ignorance. But what defines ignorance? What characteristics make a person ignorant? Though the attribute of ‘ignorant’ has a complicated definition and place in society, it’s possible to propose a loose definition that will introduce its many facets. The Oxford Dictionary defines ignorant as “lacking knowledge or awareness in general; uneducated or unsophisticated.” With this definition, ignorant seems to be just another insult or adjective similar to stupid. However, stupid is defined as “lacking intelligence or common sense.” This unveils the paramount distinction between ignorant and

Ignorant can be used as a synonym for rude or discourteous. This usage is seen as slang and is not heard as frequently in modern time, but it’s link to the original definition is understandable. It may stem from the Dunning–Kruger effect, a cognitive bias that results in uneducated individuals perceiving their abilities as superior than what is accurate. This bias arises from an inability to recognize one’s own ignorance. Charles Darwin reiterates this effect with, “ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge.” This misplaced certainty generally can produce anger or pretension—thus the slang meaning of rude or discourteous. This informal definition of ignorant also gives us an insight into the social and political usage of the

It is accepted that the amount of ignorance necessary for blind hate is incurable. Society’s new definition of ignorance can be defined as—an irreparable lack of fundamental understanding that breeds only hatred. Tolerance can not be taught in a classroom. Though it may develop with age, it is not a knowledge a person can attain. This meaning no longer refers to the person or the potential at all, it instead refers to the epidemic that still holds the world in its clutches. Prejudice is described as, “an unfavorable opinion or feeling formed beforehand or without knowledge, thought, or reason.” With this description—that aligns so smoothly with the new and old interpretation of ignorance—it is possible to construct a revised definition of the word ignorant. Ignorant can be defined as, lacking the knowledge and understanding imperative in the pursuit of tolerance and open-mindedness. This interpretation of ignorant is the most troubling in that individuals that hate under false pretenses, truly believe they are valid―overconfidence in the face of a blaring blindspot. Whether it’s textbook or slang or societal, ‘ignorant’ is a serious accusation, it’s gravity cautioned in a quote by Martin Luther King Jr. "Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious