The uselessness of theoretical knowledge

[awatkins69]

I was talking to a friend of mine. He’s great at math and physics. He’s considering pursuing them in college. However, he brought up an important question, namely, aren’t academic disciplines really just useless? Why waste time teaching kids or doing research when there are people elsewhere who could be using his help? Should we really waste our time trying to gain knowledge when people are starving to death? Of course, one might argue that theoretical knowledge is useful insofar as it is applicable to alleviating such problems. But in this case knowledge is not important in itself, but only as a means to an end. What do you think? Would life dedicated to something like math and physics be a life wasted at the expense of others?

 

[Zeemeermin]

Where would we be without Newton? Einstein? Countless others who spent their lives dedicated to theory? Once those giants figure out what the truth is and how things work, others can go apply it. There is no application without theory.

Science is the pursuit of truth. Truth is just another name for God (whether the scientist admits it or not). Understanding his creation leads us to Him. Pursuit of truth can never be wrong. Math is just the law by which everything, including science, works. Even pure math is not useless, because it leads to applied math, which leads to science, which leads to truth, which leads to God. Along the way we get practical knowledge that allows alleviation of suffering… and that too leads to God.

 

[awatkins69]

I’m not so sure why we need all these things. And again, that’s saying that they are not important in themselves. They are important insofar as they are useful. Theoretical knowledge, as *purely theoretical *knowledge, is not important and should be ignored. We don’t need great scientific knowledge to know God. All we really need is a simple faith and charity.

 

[JohnDamian]

I’m not so sure why we need all these things. And again, that’s saying that they are not important in themselves. They are important insofar as they are useful. Theoretical knowledge, as purely theoretical knowledge, is not important and should be ignored. We don’t need great scientific knowledge to know God. All we really need is a simple faith and charity.

This is why the Doctor of the Church St Peter Damian argued against the teaching of Philosophy to Monks; namely because it was believed by him that as Jesus did not take philosophers as Disciples; we need not become philosophers to become Disciples.

However; pursuing any theoretical knowlege is still a wonderful thing to do; because we are studying creation; and manytimes the theoretical knowlege we gain can be used to create wonderful things to help our fellow man; far more than simple charity (though not to impugn it) can produce.

 

[colmcille1]

I’m not so sure why we need all these things. And again, that’s saying that they are not important in themselves. They are important insofar as they are useful. Theoretical knowledge, as *purely theoretical *knowledge, is not important and should be ignored. We don’t need great scientific knowledge to know God. All we really need is a simple faith and charity.

However, is not “purely theoretical knowledge” in itself wonderful? Isn’t it marvellous that man has the capacity to use his God-given talent in such a wide array of fields of knowledge?
I had a similar discussion with two people many years back. I defended the pure philosophy corner. The argument petered out without conclusion. However, to this day, I sometimes sadly reflect that both individuals were very selfish in their private lives. Their arguments made sense when viewed through the prism of their egocentric outlook. All three of us went our separate ways in life and I have no wish to meet up.
From such a seemingly innocuous conversation, I have learnt a great deal!
God Bless,
Colmcille.