Knowledge and Power

We humans claim to be at the forefront of knowledge , and consider ourselves as having a better understanding of our world and its environs than any other creature.This claim of achievement or superiority may not be totally hollow if we consider the progress we have made as a race so far.But how much of thw whole do we really know?How has our knowledge been possible?
We recognise our own existence , and that of our enviroment , with the iad of our senses .Of the five senses we have , two ....those of sight , and hearing--are the ones that link us with the world around us.It is mainly these two senses , and a brain to control and coordinate them , that enable us to acquire knowledge and understanding about everything.How is it that this senses show such versatility as the vastness of our knowledge and abilities indicate?Are we right in assuming the ability of our senses to the extent we do?Is the knowledge that we have acquired with the help of our senses, reliable and precise?Or is our knowledge misleading?It is difficult to give convincing answers to this questions.It may also be that the answers are not always positive or encouraging.Whatever the answers , they are essentially human; from the viewpoint of humans and for the sake of humans.As they can change , with viewpoint and logic , the answers cannot be considered absolute or eternal.
The reliability of our knowledge is further in doubt , because the period for which we have been existing as a race is negligibly brief , when compared to the age of the Universe , which may be billions of years.Based on the evidence available untill now , our existence as a civilized community , eager and inquisitive for knowledge has beenfor about six thousand years.Our knowledge therefore may have limitations due to our viewpoints , attitudes and experiences , none of which may be absolutely reliable.Despite its limitations knowledge is useful to us in many ways.Its importance depends on the way it is used.It has helped more than anything else , our progress and development , as well as caused changes in our thoughts and attitudes.Knowledge and information that are capable of clearly and convincingly answering our questions , enable us to be peace with ourselves and in harmony with our environment.The confidence and courage that we get from knowledge are sources of the privilege we enjoy over those who are ignorant.Such privilege and advantage have mixed uses.
Knowledge should be approached with a balanced mentality,with due recohnition for its limitations and due acknowledgment of its advantages.Rather than think of knowledge as a means to dominate others , it should be thought of facility to understand reality, as much as possible.Knowledge serves its purpose best if it leads to more knowledge and better understanding of the absolute truth, if it ensures the peace,stability and well being of humanity, rather then be a cause for destruction.