Has Knowledge Failed Humanity?

 

"ज्ञानम् हि  तेषामधिकम् विशिष्टम् ।" It is said that knowledge distinguishes a man from an animal. But how? What is the benefit of knowledge? How has knowledge proved to be useful for humans? What  is the role of knowledge in the life of a human being?

Humans boast of being the homo sapiens. They claim their superiority over other animals due to their knowledge. But, compare a common man with his dog and you will see the latter happier and more content than the former. "Sarvam dukham" which means all is sorrow, has been concluded by Buddha. Ask a person from any corner of the world, if he is happy and pat will be his answer " no." Why does it happen? Why the humans having the superior advantage of knowledge are less happier than their supposedly disadvantaged inferiors. How has knowledge benefited humans? Has it failed humanity? Let us find its answer. 

Knowledge helps humans survive better and longer, giving them power over other animals. Is survival a worthy goal? Yes, of course, it is. It's the opposite of dying, or ending life. Humans are living beings first, then anything else. Protection of life is the first natural and innate urge and worthy goal on which other goals depend. If there is life, only then there may be other things like pleasures, satisfaction, honour, patriotism, piety, religion, loyalty, development, pride and so on. 

But survival is not the only goal which is enough for living beings, specifically for humans and other creatures with the ability of sensory perceptions. If a slave is let to live but under a torturous condition, he may prefer death to life. Even a cow living in a dairy farm under cruel conditions wouldn't like to live, let alone the humans. 

Survival doesn't look like a worthy goal in itself. Though a pet or cattle do not need much, so  do not complain much and are satisfied with the little amenities, humans are a different case. Unlike pets, humans need a lot of things to live. No other animals are heard to commit suicides, but humans are more prone to kill themselves willingly after failing to get their coveted things. Some of such needs which are essential for a human being to be longing to live,are peace,pleasure, happiness, honour, pride and love. 

Food, water, clothes and shelter help a human being survive, but he is not ready to live in the absence of pleasure no matter how less or more frequent and peace. Though pleasure is addictive and produces incremental cravings, humans become involved in gathering more and more, which consumes most of his life space.

 Though peace may be disturbed by rivalry and hostility, he seeks to establish a system which may protect his peace and increase his pleasure. That system is made up of family, society, culture, religion and state etc. The basic goal of all these components is peace and pleasure. As humans want a stable and unbroken state of peace and pleasure, they needed and found knowledge. It helped them have a life of peace and pleasure which was less likely to be disturbed by other creatures. Humans protected themselves against other animals with the help of knowledge.

 But, they have pitiably failed in securing their basic goal of peace and pleasure due to their inability in protecting themselves against their own mind and their own fellow humans. Rarely a man or a woman is seen, living a life of peace and pleasure. 

Has knowledge failed in helping them then ? Yes and no both are the answers. Knowledge is nothing but a tool which can be used as per our desires. Emotions are the users. Feelings are the users. They have not changed since the beginning, though they have become more and more complex. Knowledge as a tool has served both types of emotions, good and bad ones. Knowledge is not the culprit, but emotions are. Feelings, emotions and cravings are the main drivers of the whole human affairs. Thoughts, reasons, science and knowledge are the servants or soldiers. The  latter have become much stronger. 

We need to focus on the feelings and emotions like love which needs to be promoted and hatred which needs to be eliminated. Knowledge is power, but only when it is put in good practice.