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Caela Burrell

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Once you have gained knowledge, is it possible to go back to that feeling of "not-knowing" the knowledge?

Read this passage and comment on what you think it's describing.

"A newspaper is better than a magazine. A seashore is better than a street. At first, it is better to run than walk. You may have to try several times. It takes some skill, but it’s easy to learn. Even young children can enjoy it. Once successful, complications are minimal. Birds seldom get too close. One needs lots of room. Rain soaks in very fast. Too many people doing the same thing can also cause problems. A rock will serve as an anchor. If things break loose from it, however, you will not get a second chance." - Cognitive Psychology

I read this passage and couldn't figure out what it was talking about. When I eventually found the answer, it seemed so obvious, like "how could I have missed that?" But now, I'm not able to go back to that feeling of not knowing, before I knew what the passage was about. Are you able to? Can you recall that feeling?

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  • Steve C

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    Mar 30 2013: Is there somewhere talked about this that doesn't give the answer? I've read down to "I read this passage and," but I don't want to be given the answer.
    I doubt it's possible to go back - short of the usual forgetting-of information, or maybe hypnosis. I'm sure a lot of people would like to watch their favorite movie and be able to completely forget who-done-it.
    Anyway, Caela, that's a pretty name!

  • Philip Cogswell

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    Mar 21 2013: Subliminal collective thrust in any culture presupposes many things some so intense they prevail with little regard for truths evidenced to the contrary at a later time. To be balanced, to get back to neutral perspective spiritual practice has to be engaged. Which ones depend on several things that are par for the particular culture.
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    Casey Christofaris 10+

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    Mar 21 2013: This is why the saying truth hurts, is so real

  • Robbert-Jan Brems

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    Mar 19 2013: I feel like our experiences or what we build from to create new experiences. If you look at iteration, whether it is knowledge or an experience, you will end up doing the same thing but learning something new. I can look at the same situation from a different perspective and still have a 'wow' moment.

  • Nina Kearney

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    Mar 19 2013: You cant unknow what you known; however you can relearn what is learned. When we were young, we wished for time in life when 'we got older'. Now older, we remember back to the day we used to wish that wish. While we remember the feeling, we don't necessarily have that feeling exactly as it was the moment we had it. Why? Because we have already had experiences which separate us from that very moment we had as a child.

    You posed a great question.
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    zhengfei yan

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    Mar 19 2013: I have a deep impression on this discribing. Our world is filled with 3C, change, crisis, compete.The world is changing all time.We aren't able to distinguish that which one is better or best.So we must make a choice, then try best to make it. One same thing, someone complete every well, but someone poor.WHY?He doesn't put his heart and soul into one thing.Since we make a choice, we should accomplish it better and better.We have no opportunity to make another choice.
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    Sybella Admeta

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    Mar 17 2013: I find that I can. I have to place myself in that moment and really concentrate on the things that ran through my mind. The confusion, the frustration, the meaning behind my emotions, and the reason I wanted the knowledge in the first place. If we couldn't place ourselves in moments like the "past" where we didn't know... it'd be difficult to share with someone how we once felt.
    What I mean by this is, for example, riding a bike. When you are trying to explain to someone who is barely starting and has no idea what it would be like... you go back to that moment yourself. You then explain to that person how you also felt that way once before and at least for a brief moment your moment of "not-knowing" comes back. Even if just for that moment you were explaining yourself.
    Also, I think we tend to reflect on our past when we get older. This sometimes makes us feel "one way or the other" whether happy, or sad, or upset. To me those emotions do tie in with the moment of not knowing.
    Not sure if this answered your question, but I hope it did some good. :)

  • greg dahlen 20+

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    Mar 17 2013: I can remember it, but I prefer the feeling when I've gotten the knowledge.
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    Frank Rothstein

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    Mar 17 2013: I can recall the feeling of many firsts in my life. The feeling of the first this or that, the feeling of a first love and so on. While I may be able to experience them again it will be different the next time.

  • Charles Curt

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    Mar 16 2013: you can remember that feeling but to experience it as you did when you did not know would mean time travel but there are ways around this thoughts and knowledge are physically in your brain if you had the knowledge to do so you could remove the parts of that brain with the knowledge or perhaps reset it to a blank neuron

  • Eric Hazelle

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    Mar 16 2013: Yeah. I remember a high school algebra class where we studied "proofs" of basic mathematical theorems. I've never used that knowledge; it was 50 years ago. If I had to "prove" that if A=B=C, then C=A, I couldn't do it. If we don't use or think about the knowledge we receive, it's bound to fade from our memories. btw; how are things in Egypt? We all hope that great and ancient cradle of western civilization will find peace and freedom. Our best wishes are with you.
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