Human’s greatest weapon

By Jasper Tumblod
Westwind Weekly News

“Knowledge is Power” English philosopher Francis Bacon coined the quote that knowledge in itself is power, and a quote that resonated within me. 

There is a small number of individuals who truly grasp the significance of knowledge. Not all educated individuals are knowledgeable, but all knowledgeable individuals are educated. This statement may seem odd, however, it is accurate. In the modern-day society, the majority of individuals have received education but often lack a true understanding of the subjects they have learned. Only a small percentage of people grasp the significance of knowledge. Knowledge grows when shared. It safeguards your intellectual property, which is your expertise. Similarly, people have utilized their understanding to invent objects that were unimaginable just a few hundred years ago. It assists us in turning our thoughts into tangible outcomes and in achieving the success we aspire to in our lives. In addition, knowledge helps us distinguish between what is moral and immoral. It assists us in dealing with our errors, shortcomings, and perilous circumstances in life.

The one who knows has an edge over the man who doesn’t know. The physician’s medical knowledge allows him to heal diseases and save his patients’ lives. However, the blackmailer, knowing some shameful secret, might bleed his victim white with the fear of revelation. In this sense, the educated classes have always been able to dominate the uneducated. During the Middle Ages in Europe, clerics were the only educated males. The governing classes frequently lacked literacy skills. They needed to designate priests as ministers and counselors. Similarly, and for the same reason, a small group of Europeans could govern millions of African Natives.

The East also dominated early history due to its better understanding. The Muslims were then the torchbearers of knowledge. Europe was then plunged into savagery. However, from the beginning of the sixteenth century, the West regained its position as civilization’s leader. Western influence spread over the planet. They created colonies in Asian and African countries. South Asia remained under British administration for more than a century. Superiority was often gained because of their greater knowledge, as well as the weaponry, organization, and character that knowledge provided.

Physically, man is a far inferior creature compared to those in the animal kingdom. He cannot run as fast and elegant as a horse nor fly as free as a bird. He is no match to the physical prowess of those such as lions, bears, or elephants. No natural weapons like a snakes fang or venom. Yet he alone stands at the top of the food web, our vast superior knowledge and intellect is what separates us from them. Knowledge has no end, though a definite beginning. It is infinitely expendable throughout time and is mainly why we came out on top. Human’s greatest weapon: its far superior intellect compared to others.