Kolkata, West Bengal
To live according to the rules, one must follow the rules of the environment. Sometimes we follow nature’s rules without question, and at other times, we use our intelligence to adapt them to our benefit. A coconut falls from a tree by natural law, and we accept it.
However, to get a coconut, depending on natural law won’t be enough. Then we need to apply our intelligence to collect it. The application of intelligence depends on our knowledge. The knowledge of climbing a tree, the knowledge of using tools to cut the coconut’s stem—these are examples of how different pieces of knowledge come together to collect a coconut.
Every task is completed with the application of many kinds of knowledge. That’s why the collection of knowledge began from the dawn of creation. One person’s collected knowledge is passed on to another, sometimes refined and modified. In this way, the collective knowledge base has grown. Along with the needs of survival, humans also collect knowledge to satisfy their curiosity. The knowledge acquired in this way later manifests as practical knowledge.
The relationship we form with the objects about which we need knowledge is established through the five senses. The power of the senses differs from person to person. Some people can enhance these powers through practice. For example, one might see something on a distant tree. It could be a squirrel, a bird, or something else that the observer has never seen before. In this case, the person with sharp eyesight may conclude what it is, if they have prior knowledge about it. Someone who only sees it faintly may not be able to make a judgment. As they get closer, let’s say they confirm it is a bird. However, from that position, they may still not be sure about the bird’s species. To understand something better, one needs to get closer to it. How close one needs to get depends on the nature of the object and the observer’s prior experience. For this, intense observation of nature is necessary.
To delve deeper into the world of knowledge, we cannot rely solely on our eyes. There are two containers with water. By looking, we can conclude they both contain water. But if we need to know the temperature of the water, it cannot be done by sight alone. In this case, we need the sense of touch. In this way, some things are understood by sight, while others must be understood through feeling. Then, there is the knowledge gained through various experiments. For example, if there are two pieces of iron, and one of them has magnetic properties, we cannot directly sense this with our five senses. We must understand it through specific experiments.
Sometimes, the limitations of the senses hinder knowledge acquisition. In such cases, scientific instruments are needed. These help overcome the limitations of the senses. However, if the power of the senses can be somewhat enhanced through practice, it can be beneficial in practical life. For example, if a faint smell of smoke is detected in a certain place, having the ability to sense it can protect from potential danger.
As civilization has progressed, as acquired knowledge has increased, it has become more complicated to communicate it to others. Instead of a single discussion, it became necessary to divide it into parts. For example, in discussing animals, the first division is between vertebrates and invertebrates. Vertebrates have one thing in common—the spine. The other characteristics may or may not be similar. Therefore, when acquiring knowledge, it is important to understand both similarities and differences. Additionally, it is necessary to know what can be gained by analyzing an object and which other objects it may be connected with. Specialized knowledge is required to understand the unique characteristics of an object or animal. For example, to raise cattle, specialized knowledge about cows is needed. Cows need to be housed, but unlike humans, they cannot be kept in closed spaces. They need an open space. Also, cows cannot be fed rice, bread, or other human food; they must be given hay, straw, etc. Then, there is the issue of quantity. What is suitable for human consumption—its quantity may not apply to cows. Also, the management of cows may differ among various breeds.
There is also holistic knowledge, which is complete knowledge about a particular object or topic. For instance, a blind person only knows the part of an elephant they can feel. One may think the elephant’s trunk is like a hose, while another may feel it is like a spear. Only a person with sight knows that the trunk is distinct, though it may resemble both a hose and a spear. Their knowledge is holistic knowledge.
After gaining knowledge, the next step is to understand the object’s use. If an object has multiple forms, all of its uses need to be known. For example, if we learn about the origin of honey, we must also know its benefits, the qualities of fresh honey, and the qualities of aged honey, as well as how much of it should be consumed. This knowledge is called practical knowledge. If we think about it this way, learning various tasks also falls under practical knowledge. For example—farming, tree cutting, driving, photography, running a shop, etc. The more of these practical tasks one learns, the more advantages they gain in life. However, not everyone earns a living by doing many different types of work. When one can survive by learning just one or two tasks, why learn so many? The answer is, having comprehensive knowledge of different tasks means one cannot be easily deceived in those areas. In some cases, dependency on others will decrease.
For solving various problems or for greater comfort, it is necessary to integrate different kinds of knowledge. For example, if someone knows leather, thread, and buttons, at first glance, these may seem unrelated. But if these three kinds of knowledge come together to create a bag, it will be of great use to people.
The more one loves their own life, the more they can love the environment and nature. In them arises a thirst for knowledge and curiosity. This leads to the unyielding drive to fulfill needs through acquired knowledge. For example, Edward Jenner, with a curious mind, listened attentively to his housekeeper’s account and, following that path, discovered the smallpox vaccine. His knowledge was applied for the welfare of mankind.
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