The past few days were a humbling moment for me as I get to know subject matter experts that bear work titles as specialist and product engineers I realized that how easy they explain and argue on codes & standards whereby I needed to reread paragraphs twice before replying queries.
Aristotle’s statement “the more you know, the more you don’t know” reflects the idea that as one acquires knowledge, it opens up new perspectives and raises more questions. Knowledge is an endless pursuit, and the deeper one delves into a subject, the more complexities and intricacies arise. This concept is closely tied to the nature of learning and intellectual exploration.
As individuals gain expertise in a particular field, they become increasingly aware of the vastness of information and the limitations of their understanding. Each discovery or insight often leads to the recognition of unexplored territories and areas that demand further exploration. This process of continuous questioning and exploration encourages a humble acknowledgment of the vast unknown, fostering a mindset of curiosity and intellectual humility.
In essence, Aristotle’s statement underscores the idea that knowledge is not a finite destination but an ongoing journey. The more one learns, the more they realize the vastness of the unknown, instigating a perpetual cycle of curiosity, learning, and the recognition of one’s intellectual limitations.
There’s an old Malay saying reflecting this moment I’m experiencing:
“Bawa resmi padi, makin berisi makin tunduk.”
It means to follow the features of the common paddy rice plant, the more you know the more humble you behave (because you know there’s more that you don’t know).
Cheers 🥂 MFR