Content based on chapter 7 of 30 Philosophers.
Since I was a child, I have been exploring the dichotomy between ignorance and knowledge. I remember people saying things like, “I like hot dogs, but no one wants to see how they’re made.” When I found out, I was like, yeah, who wants to know that! The end product is delicious.
In 2000, when The Matrix movie came out, the phrase “Ignorance is bliss” became part of the common parlance.
The Matrix movies cover this topic well, particularly through the character Cypher, who betrays his crew in exchange for the promise of a return to the illusion of the Matrix. He knows the truth but prefers the comforting deception of the simulation over the harsh reality of the real world. His perspective raises an interesting question: If knowing the truth causes suffering, is it better to remain ignorant?
In researching 30 Philosophers, I dug into its origins. Turns out it came from an 18th-century English poet, Thomas Gray. In his 1742 poem Ode on a Distant Prospect of Eton College, he reflects on the carefree days of youth, where ignorance shields children from the troubles of the adult world. The famous line—”Where ignorance is bliss, ’tis folly to be wise”—suggests that awareness of life’s hardships brings sorrow. But was Gray advocating for ignorance? Not quite. His poem is more of a nostalgic lament than an argument for avoiding knowledge.
I explore the dichotomy between ignorance and true knowledge in chapter 7 of 30 Philosophers. You see the illusions of reality explored in Eastern philosophies like Hinduism and Buddhism as maya, a veil of deception hiding the true nature of existence. In the West, Socrates was an early skeptic, questioning everything. His student Plato’s famous allegory of the cave is another take on this theme. In the story, prisoners mistake shadows on a wall for reality. When one escapes and sees the real world, he returns to enlighten the others—only to be ridiculed and rejected. Sometimes, knowledge is a burden, and those who seek it are met with resistance.
So, does wisdom bring suffering? Or is it a necessary step toward a more meaningful existence? In 30 Philosophers, I argue that this dichotomy is a must-part of everyone’s worldview. I use the example of germaphobes and the fact that a certain amount of ignorance could lead to a better life. In contrast, throughout the book, I talk about how the illusions of life are just fine if you’re happy, but if you’re not, removing some of the illusions, with a focus on social constructs, can help you live a happier life, by living your authentic self.