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Readings from the Fringes

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Knowledge is Power
Yuval Noah Harari
Intro
Yuval Noah Harari (b. 1976) is an Israeli philosopher, historian and author. He is famous for his
bestsellers such as Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind (2014), Homo Deus: A Brief History of
Tomorrow (2016), and 21 Lessons for the 21st Century (2018).

Summary
Harari’s ‘Knowledge is Power’ is a critical evaluation of the changes new technologies and deadly
weapons have made in the world. It also discusses the relationship between science and technology.
Harari says that the real test of 'knowledge' is not whether it is true, but whether it empowers us. A
theory that enables us to do new things constitutes knowledge.
Science has offered us many new tools: e.g., mental tools that predict death rates and economic growth;
technological tools.
Sometimes uneducated craftsmen create new technologies using trial and error methods.
There is confusion among people between science and technology.
Today’s scientific research and technological development are mainly in the field of defence and wars.
The ancient rulers fought and won wars not by using sophisticated weapons supplied by science and
technology. They did not give much thought to technological improvement.
Modern states call in their scientists to provide solutions.
When World War One got prolonged, both sides called in the scientists to break the deadlock and save
the nation. Science played a major role in World War Two as well.
Now scientists also believe that the plague of terrorism can be solved by nanotechnology. It can
develop bionic spy-flies to monitor terrorists’ activities, and ultra-sophisticated FMRI* scanners to
recognize hateful thoughts in people’s brain.
But the author does not feel it wise to develop bionic flies and thought-reading scanners in defence.

*(Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging – used to measure blood flow in the brain without having
to do surgery)

Short Answers
1. Why do most people have a hard time digesting modern science?
Most people have a hard time digesting modern science because its mathematical language is
difficult for our minds to grasp. The findings of science often contradict common sense.

2. What does Francis Bacon mean by 'knowledge is power'?

Bacon says that the real test of 'knowledge' is not whether it is true, but whether it empowers
us. The real test is utility. A theory that enables us to do new things constitutes knowledge.

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3. What are the new tools offered by science over centuries?

Over the centuries, science has offered us many new tools. For example, mental tools predict
death rates and economic growth, and technological tools.

4. What is the confusion between science and technology among people?

There is confusion among people between science and technology. It is because of the strong
connection between these two. They often think that there is no technology without science, and
research is useless if it does not lead to new technology.

5. Why do rulers finance educational institutions?

Rulers finance educational institutions to spread traditional knowledge for strengthening the
existing order.

6. What are the new wonder-weapons invented during the First World war?
The new wonder weapons invented during the First World War are combat aircraft, poison gas,
tanks, submarines, machine guns, artillery pieces, rifles and bombs.

7. "German soldiers and civilians thought, not all was lost during the Second World War." Give one
reason.
The reason was that German soldiers and civilians believed German scientists would change
the situation with the so-called miracle weapons such as the V-2 rocket and jet-powered aircraft.

8. How can nanotechnology find a solution to terrorism?

Nanotechnology will develop bionic spy-flies capable of monitoring the activities of terrorists
like Osama Bin Laden in secret locations. Airports could be fitted with ultra-sophisticated FMRI
scanners that can recognize hateful thoughts in people’s brain.

9. What is the surprisingly recent phenomenon about science and technology?

The obsession with military technology— from tanks to atom bombs to spy-flies — is a
surprisingly recent phenomenon.

10. How was gunpowder invented?

Gunpowder was invented accidentally by Daoist alchemists searching for the elixir of life.

Paragraph Questions
1. What is the relationship between science and technology?

Science is the study of the natural world by scientific method. Technology is application of
scientific knowledge. It produces useful devices and solves problems. Technology is developed by
way of scientific knowledge. There is confusion among people between science and technology. It is
because of the strong connection between these two. The relationship between science and technology

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is a very recent phenomenon. Before 1500, science and technology were totally separate fields. It was
Bacon who connected the two in the early 17th century. During 17th and 18th centuries this relationship
tightened. The final relationship was established in the nineteenth century.

2. Comment on the role played by science in World War Two.

Science played a major role in World War II. It was science that brought the War to an end.
Governments liberally funded research laboratories to help them in the war with new weapons,
devices, and medicine. The Germans believed German scientists would change the situation with the
so-called miracle weapons such as the V-2 rocket and jet-powered aircraft. At the same time, America
concentrated on developing the atom bomb. The Americans knew that the Japanese would not
surrender. So, they dropped the atom bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It brought Japan to their
knees. Thus ended the Second World War.

3. How can science be used in defence?

OR
6. "Science is not just about offensive weapons". Comment.

Science is useful for producing offensive weapons. At the same time, it can also be used in
defence. Today many Americans believe that the problem of terrorism can be solved by technology
rather than by politics. Science and technology are always looking for increasing the defence
capabilities of nations. If the Americans fund nanotechnology and brain research adequately, it will
develop bionic spy-flies capable of monitoring the activities of terrorists like Osama Bin Laden in
secret locations in Afghanistan, Yemen, and North Africa. Airports could be fitted with ultra-
sophisticated FMRI scanners that can recognize angry and hateful thoughts in people’s brain.

4. Why did President Truman decide to use the new bomb?

While the Germans were working on rockets and jets, the Americans had successfully
developed atomic bombs. The bomb was ready in early August 1945. By that time, Germany had
already surrendered, but Japan was fighting on. American forces were ready to attack Japanese home
islands. The Japanese vowed to resist and fight to the death. American generals told President Truman
that an invasion of Japan would cost the lives of a million American soldiers and would extend the war
well into 1946. Truman decided to use the new bomb. Two weeks and two atom bombs later, Japan
surrendered unconditionally and the war ended on 14 Aug 1945.

5. Discuss the invention of gunpowder and its subsequent use.

Gunpowder was invented by China. It came accidentally, not as a result of scientific research.
It was invented accidentally by Daoist alchemists searching for the elixir of life that would make man
immortal. For centuries, the Chinese used the gunpowder mainly for firecrackers. Even though they
had the gunpowder, they were defeated by the Mongols. They never thought of inventing a dangerous

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weapon like bomb. Cannons became a decisive factor in Afro-Asian battlefields only in the 15th
century, 600 years after the invention of gunpowder. Until then, no kings, scholars or merchants
thought that new military technology could save them or make them rich.

7. How did ancient rulers fight and win wars?

The ancient rulers fought and won wars not by using sophisticated weapons supplied by science and
technology. They did not give much thought to technological improvement. The Arabs defeated
Sassanid Empire not by using superior bows and arrows. The Seljuks had no technological advantage
over the Byzantines. The Mongols conquered China not because they had sophisticated weapons. In
fact, in all these cases the defeated side enjoyed superior military and civilian technology. The Roman
army is a particularly good example. It was the best army of its day, but it was not technologically
superior. Its advantage rested on efficient organisation, iron discipline and huge manpower reserves.

Essay 1
1. Comment on the difference in the use of technology by ancient and modern rulers.

In the chapter ‘Knowledge is Power’, Harari talks about the difference in the use of technology by
ancient and modern rulers. The ancient rulers did not give much thought to technological improvement
especially during warfare. However, today's wars are scientific productions.
The ancient rulers fought and won wars not by using sophisticated weapons supplied by science
and technology. The Arabs defeated Sassanid Empire not by using superior bows and arrows. The
Seljuks had no technological advantage over the Byzantines. The Mongols conquered China not
because they had sophisticated weapons. In fact, in all these cases the vanquished enjoyed superior
military and civilian technology. The advantage of the Roman army was its efficient organisation,
discipline and huge manpower reserves.
Modern states, on the other hand, call in their scientists to provide solutions. When World War
One got prolonged, both sides called in the scientists to break the deadlock and save the nation. Science
played a larger role in World War Two. When Japan vowed to fight on till death, President Truman
put an end to the crisis by using the new bomb. Now scientists also believe that the plague of terrorism
can be solved by nanotechnology.
Whereas modern states call in their scientists for solutions in almost every area, ancient
kingdoms seldom did so. This is how the ancient and modern rulers differed in the use of technology.
(228 words)

Essay 2
2. Critically examine the chapter "Knowledge is power" by Yuval Noah Harari.

Harari’s ‘Knowledge is Power’ critically evaluates the transformation new technologies and deadly
weapons have made in the world. It also discusses the relationship between science and technology.

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 5

Harari says that the real test of 'knowledge' is not whether it is true, but whether it empowers
us. A theory that enables us to do new things constitutes knowledge. Over the centuries, science has
offered us many new tools. Some are mental tools that predict death rates and economic growth. There
are also technological tools. Sometimes uneducated craftsmen create new technologies using trial and
error methods. There is confusion among people between science and technology.
The ancient rulers fought and won wars not by using sophisticated weapons supplied by science
and technology. They did not give much thought to technological improvement. Today’s scientific
research and technological development are mainly in the field of defence and wars. Modern states
call in their scientists to provide solutions. When World War One got prolonged, both sides called in
the scientists to break the deadlock and save the nation. Science played a major role in World War
Two as well.
Now scientist also believe that the plague of terrorism can be solved by nanotechnology. It can
develop bionic spy-flies to monitor terrorists’ activities, and ultra-sophisticated FMRI scanners to
recognize hateful thoughts in people’s brain. But the author does not feel it wise to develop bionic flies
and thought-reading scanners in defence. (235 words)

Essay 3
3. Trace the history of development of military weapons.

In the chapter ‘Knowledge is Power’, Harari evaluates the transformation new technologies and deadly
weapons have made in the world. He also traces the history of development of military weapons.
The ancient rulers did not give much thought to technological improvement especially during
warfare. However, modern states call in their scientists to provide solutions for everything.
Development of military weapons is comparatively a new phenomenon. Even Napoleon did not do
anything to develop military weapon.
The Chinese invented gunpowder by accident. They used it for firecrackers. They had
gunpowder, but they were defeated by the Mongols. It was only in the 15'h century, 600 years after
the invention of gunpowder, that cannons became a decisive factor in wars. It took so long to be used
in the battlefields because no kings, scholars and merchants thought that new military technology could
save them or make them rich.
When World War One got prolonged, the help of scientists was sought to break the deadlock
and save the nation. The new wonder weapons such as combat aircraft, poison gas, tanks, submarines,
machine guns, artillery pieces, rifles and bombs were invented. Science played a larger role in World
War Two. When Japan vowed to fight on till death, President Truman put an end to the crisis by using
the new bomb.
Now scientist also believe that the plague of terrorism can be solved by nanotechnology. It can
develop bionic spy-flies to monitor terrorists’ activities, and ultra-sophisticated FMRI scanners to
recognize hateful thoughts in people’s brain. But the author does not feel it wise to develop bionic flies
and thought-reading scanners in defence. (268 words)

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