Knowledge is just a tool for power to manipulate nature and other humans. So to sum up, on the happiness side, Erasmus argued that folly, ignorance, or naivety is a good thing to have to lead a happier life. We have all seen children. As we grow older, we lose that naivety and become a bit more miserable.
Montaigne argued that you shouldn’t follow the crowd, instead, seek some solitude to cultivate your own inner peace. Don’t seek validation from others, like a drug addict. The higher you go, the more you seek to get higher and higher. No mountain is high enough.
So listen to Montaigne, because he came down the mountain to settle in a hut. Even his name means Montaigne, so climb yourself and your ego, not other people’s validation.
Bertrand Russell argued that work is not a morally good or bad thing, so we should prioritize happiness over work. Work to live or live to work, not work to death.
I should really listen to this. But I want to have more subscribers. Montaigne, help! So knowledge can make your physical life better or make you more successful financially or boost your social standing, but it might decrease your overall happiness. Knowing things also makes us humans very cynical about the world, just like Foucault said that all knowledge is power and all authorities want to suppress you. Naivety, on the other hand, might make your physical life harder, as you don’t have everything figured out, but it can also lead you to a more long-lasting happiness as you trust other people and rely on other people, which brings a level of sincerity in yourself and those around you. So knowledge makes you successful but it could also cynical while ignorance hinders your success, it could lead to a more blissful life. What do you think?