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How can we recognize when we have made progress in the search for knowledge?
Consider two contrasting areas of knowledge.

Several theories attempt to describe the knowledge-seeking process, each with their
own framework. The concept of a-priori knowledge, for example, makes the argument that
there is a great deal of knowledge that humans can attain irrespective of any physical
experiences. Empiricism, on the other hand, bases the entire effort of acquiring knowledge
upon the senses and perceptual observations. Idealist philosophies, such as that of
Immanuel Kant who held that all that we know is made by mental impressions of the outside
world, stretch the a-priori concept further, showing that knowledge comes naturally to man
who is an innately thinking creature. Which framework is most appropriate to explain certain
phenomena, such as the instinct to feed from a mothers milk at birth? Can the a-priori
framework explain this instinctive knowledge by arguing how it is separate of any personal
experiences? The empiricist would argue that such knowledge is impossible because
experience is always a prerequisite. Approaching knowledge and the progress made in
knowledge with any particular framework thus has the ironic effect of limiting ones ability
to properly attain it.
We can recognize when we have made progress in the search for knowledge at the
point which we properly differentiate between knowledge and information and transcend
the level in which we simply derive knowledge, such as through the various philosophies,
and instead apply knowledge in areas of our lives. Pieces of information alone are not a
justified, true belief, and must be connected to garner significance. The ability to apply
knowledge is reflective of mental maturity and a capacity to understand how knowledge
claims are formed and the societal impacts that they have. For the purpose of focusing this
investigation, consider two areas of knowledge, ethics and the arts.
Art is a relatively liberal area of knowledge in that it commonly encourages personal
interpretation. For the visual arts specifically, purists focus strongly on realism and other
traditional forms of art. Contemporary art and modern trends since World War II evidently
has no restrictions. At what point can one claim to comprehend art and all its forms?
Imagine that one is familiar with all forms of art, but he prefers surrealism, arguing that it is
more creative or aesthetically pleasing. The same can be said about other forms of art,
however. Therefore, if the quality of art was based simply upon personal preference, there
would be no intrinsic value to it.
The human tendency to accept particular forms of art and disregard others reveals its
emotional implications which are truly important to understand when analyzing ones
progress in knowledge of art. The debate over the quality of some art piece, for example,
demonstrates the consequence of narrow-minded thinking towards art forms. The popular
criticism of Edvard Munch and his works such as The Scream was that he never finished
his pieces, that they were only half-hearted sketches. 34 This may reveal an arguably more

Lubow, Arthur. "Edvard Munch: Beyond The Scream." Smithsonian.com. Smithsonian, Mar.
2006. Web. Feb. 2011.
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sophisticated familiarity with art in general, a sort of connoisseur-ship. The average

observer, on the other hand, will make note of the obvious characteristics of the piece; the
manic look on the personas face, the somber, red backdrop and perhaps even the broad,
hasty strokes of the brush. Ultimately, both observations are shallow, focusing on the
ascetic aspects of the piece rather than the message Munch wished to communicate, the
story the piece tells or its societal implications since The Scream assumed its popularity.
Processing the visual data that we absorb from a painting, therefore, is not an indication of
making any progress in finding significance in the art or shaping any bona fide knowledge.
Someone who has made genuine progress in knowledge of the arts will attach emotions
experiences in lieu of attempting to gather the most information from the work.
Becoming conscious of ones personal attitudes toward art can help to overcome the
temptation to approach art cynically. Rather than taking any subjective approach,
appreciative or critical, it is more important to realize that art is an inseparable part of
society that thrives irrespective of ones opinions.
Complete relativism towards the arts, on the other hand, is the opposite extreme to
the critical approach that is equally detrimental to search for knowledge. The danger of
course, is that relativism is overly accepting of any knowledge claims. A threshold for
acquiring and progressing in knowledge does not exist in a relativist mindset. A popular
Internet petition group against animal tortures as a form of art writes that some things
have no place in this supposedly civilized world [or] in art. 45 Indeed, if an act of brutality
was considered art, genocide and massacre would be the greatest masterpiece.
Ethics is an area of knowledge that is far more sensitive to debate. Mishandling
ethical issues can have dangerous consequences. Ethics has evolved from its various
branches developed by Aristotle and Socrates to two basic categories; utilitarianism, a form
of consequentialism, and deontology which focuses on what is morally justified. 1 United
States politics is a combination of the two. Many policies in the United States are
deontological in nature, such as legislation proposed to restrict scientific research on
aborted fetuses, or more recent state proposals to limit free speech that is excessively
hateful or emotionally damaging. Consider the recent debacle over the Westboro Baptist
church of Topeka Kansas and Albert Snyder, father of Matthew Snyder, who was killed while
serving in Iraq. Members of the Westboro church protested on the street adjacent to the
location of Matthew Snyders funeral. The United States Supreme Court ruled 8 to 1 in favor
of the Phelps, arguing that regardless of the undeniable pain that it caused the father, that
the protest was protected under the United States constitution.

"Deontological Ethics." Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Stanford University, 21 Nov.

2007. Web.
41

Reyes, Maya. "Stop Animal Torture for the Sake of "art"" Care2petition. Care Petionsite.Web.
Feb. 2011.
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This decision reveals the multifaceted stance towards ethics in American society.
First, it appears that the general moral backbone in the US is uniform, that the Judges as
well as the millions who support Albert Snyder share the notion that the behavior of the
Phelps group is harmful and not morally justified. This collective reasoning is revealing of an
ingrained, deontological sensitivity to emotional circumstances. On the other hand, the
ruling by the Supreme Court shows that US legal system is structured upon consequentialist
standards. Imagine a world where the decision was in favor of Snyder. A singular instance of
protecting the emotional health of an individual could compromise all future efforts of free
speech. Local governments must inevitably consider the greater side effects of passing
legislation to prevent harmful speech.
In some sense, the caution taken in US politics over ethical issues is evidence of
progress made in society in terms of protecting the greatest number of groups and ensuring
the highest level of egalitarianism. Yet, this does not incentivize society to come into terms
with their moral differences. Government simply satisfies all thought or suppresses the
conflicts that are steered by the difference of opinion. The result is an illusion of moral
sophistication. Utilitarian applications, especially rule utilitarianism where government
bodies act according to what seems to lead to the greatest good, barricades society from
facing instances where ethically justified actions, like the legally sound protest by the
Westboro church, damage the moral fiber of society as a whole.
In other areas of the world where societies do not readily face the legal complexities
in the US, the ethical construct of government is radically different. Communist nations
continue to withhold certain freedoms from individuals. The Great Firewall in China, although
seen as an effort to suppress free speech by American society, could indeed be an effort of
the Chinese government to avoid moral complexities brought upon by diversity of opinion.
Which political system does the people more good; the democratic system which is prone to
complexities or the communist system which structurally simplistic?
When trying to determine whether progress has been made in the area of ethics, it is
perhaps best to compare the current ethical standards to those in a State of Nature. Thomas
Hobbes faced a similar difficulty when discussing societal improvements that can be offered
by political systems in his book, Leviathan. As opposed to a State of Nature, where there is
constant war, there is only one right that mankind can exercise; the right to survive. Man is
willing to offer only so much liberty to offer men as he would other men against himself. 3
It is hard to argue that the ethical percepts of an individual in a state of nature are more
developed than our own, regardless of the flaws in our system. Ultimately, progress in the
knowledge of ethics is marked by the improvements we are able to make in society in terms
of maintaining increasing levels of peace and stability.

"Equilibrium (2002)." Wikipedia. Jimmy Wales. Web. Feb. 2011.

<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equilibrium_%28film%29>.
32

Hobbes, Thomas. "Leviathan, Ch. XIII." Leviathan or The Matter, Forme and Power of a
Common Wealth Ecclesiasticall and Civil. Web.
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Attempting to achieve some absolute level of peace in society, however, is not the
definitive measure of progress. In the 2002 blockbuster, Equilibrium, a totalitarian state
determines, after the Third World War devastated the entire planet, that human emotion
was the root cause of all ethical conflicts. 1All emotionally stimulating objects, including
works of art, music etc, are banned and citizens of the state are obligated by law to take
emotional-suppressants. The movie effectively demonstrates the plausible consequences of
seeking knowledge of ethics. By becoming convinced that an emotionless existence is the
ultimate, justified and true state of ethical structure in society, the state creates an
oppressive, dystopian world.
Ethical structures are inherently diverse across the world and the collective
standards by which we evaluate wrongs and rights are the best indications of societal
progress in ethics.
81-63
Works Cited:

1."Deontological Ethics." Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Stanford University, 21 Nov. 2007. Web.
2. "Equilibrium (2002)." Wikipedia. Jimmy Wales. Web. Feb. 2011.

<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equilibrium_%28film%29>.
3. Hobbes, Thomas. "Leviathan, Ch. XIII." Leviathan or The Matter, Forme and Power of aCommon

Wealth Ecclesiasticall and Civil. Web.

4. Lubow, Arthur Lubow. "Edvard Munch: Beyond The Scream." Smithsonian.com. Smithsonian, Mar.

2006. Web. Feb. 2011.

5. Reyes, Maya. "Stop Animal Torture for the Sake of "art"" Care2petition. Care Petionsite. Web. Feb.

2011.