Technology and Morality in Shelley's Frankenstein - Is Knowledge Always Evil?

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Frankenstein: Is Knowledge Always Evil?

As of this writing, I have decided to regard the local TV channel's "The more you know..." commercials as being evil. I do not understand how anyone could regard "knowledge" as anything but evil. "The more you know..." the more your mind feels the need to explorer for more knowledge and the more evil it will encounter. The more you search, the more ignorant you realize you are and the more open to pain you become. Who needs to have the knowledge possessed by God or the knowledge of creation from nothing? Frankenstein "...ardently desired the acquisition of knowledge" and later came to realize "...how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge."

In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein we learn very quickly how Frankenstein's search for knowledge turned him from an "intelligent being" to a fearful and hateful madman. At the same time, Frankenstein created a being who was able to develop an intelligence far greater than many "naturally created" beings. The process that Frankenstein used to create the daemon / monster, as he was referred to, involved his removal from his family and society to the point where he "...seemed to have lost all soul or sensation but for this one pursuit." He was even neglecting his own health just to pursue "...nature to her hiding-places." Most of his reasoning ...

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...rk and they both are approached by me from religious and moral standpoints. The computer science realm contains many scientist like Frankenstein who artificial create their own worlds in place of society and create intelligence as great as those created by God / a god / gods. The fact is these worlds (such as the very real world of the online game Ultima where thousands of people from everywhere logon and participate in every aspect of life including virtual crime) cause destruction of marriages, family, friendships, and therefore our own society. These downfalls are all due to the idea and pursuit of the knowledge of artificial creation as a right of humankind.

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