reply to post by Frankidealist35
if there is such a thing as absolute knowledge - I personally don't believe that any one individual - let alone group - has that knowledge
I think all we ever have are parts of it - and different parts at different times
and that what may have been "the truth" yesterday has shifted it's form today - and will shift again tomorrow
life changes, circumstances change - truth changes
and, how would we define "wakefulness"?
awareness and unawareness?
it's probably reasonable to assume that I might be very aware - more aware than another - on some subjects - but be blind as a bat in other areas -
just not see or understand the reality of someone else or another situation
every religious group - every political group - every PTA - has a sense that what they know is real, sensible - the truth - and that they are
aware
but it's not useful, or even realistic to assume that what I see is the "truth" - even if it is the truth for my self
it can be dangerous
we want to feel comfortable in this world - safe
we want things to be decided - so we don't have to think about them any more
constantly reassessing the situation is exhausting - so, maybe just as a matter of survival and being able to function in our day to day lives - we
decide we know stuff - and move on
we have beds to make, bills to pay - lives to lead - so - we stop considering - and continue
on the serious matters of our shared existence - we decide as individuals or groups that we "know' something
it's hard work to undo what we know - it's actually easier to attack the ideas we don't believe in than it is to constantly reassess our own point
of view
we define ourselves by what we are not as often as we do by what we really are
what I would say, in answer to your question is - we should never be afraid to question - it's necessary
it's when we know things for sure that we're the most likely to make mistakes - and sometimes they're big ones
who's unaware?
we all are
[edit on 11/10/2008 by Spiramirabilis]