My Ignorance Defines Me!

In my early 20's, while I was in prison, I remember explicity realizing that I was defined more by what I didn't know than by what I did know. I remember thinking, "My ignorance defines me!" And I have often said as much since.

But, what does that mean? It's really rather simple. We are defined by our limitations, not our capabilities. If you think it depends on your perspective - as in, is the cup half-full; or half-empty? - then you're missing the point. The cup is not defined by its contents, but by its ability to place a limit upon its contents.

When we become aware of something, that knowledge becomes a part of us. And, it changes us. Which is to say, that the knowledge changes our "definition". But, the knowledge itself existed before we became aware of it, so it doesn't change. Only we change. But, if the knowledge (i.e. fact, reality, etc... whatever you want to call it) doesn't change, and yet our definition does change, then what has changed?

What changes is our ignorance! Something we were ignorant of becomes known to us. And thus, some of our ignorance is lost (be sure not to confuse ignorance with innocence here, they are not the same at all(1)). And it is this change in our ignorance that changes us, and changes how we are defined.

This is an important realization, because it helps us to genuinely respect our ignorance, and our limitations, rather than falsely boast of our knowledge and our capabilities. If my ignorance is less than another man's ignorance (i.e. I know something he does not) then realizing how we are defined by what we don't know rather than what we do, lets me more easily realize that my "knowledge" does not make me superior to the other man; it only changes my ignorance.

Being less ignorant is not the same as being superior. It is like being less blond, or less handicapped. It may give me some advantage, but it does not make me a better person. Of course, the same thing is true about having more knowledge. But, if you realize that all knowledge is really only the absence of ignorance then you might better be able to see that all people are fundamentally defined by the same thing; our ignorance.

(J.D. August 30, 2015)

Notes: (1) Ignorance is the act of ignoring something that may otherwise be known to us. So, ignorance always involves some effort, usually on an unconscious level. But, innocence is simply the absence of judgement, and hence requires no effort. So, in a very real sense, innocence is exclusive of ignorance; you can't be ignorant and innocent at the same time.