2009
Prescribed Title Who is who to say what is right and what is wrong? People all over the world have different definitions of objective knowledge due to many aspects of their lives, and through the positive and negative events that they experience. The definition of objective knowledge is that which cannot be contested or refuted, regardless of situation. Can this exist? For example, we as humans are told that 2 + 2 = 4. Is this a correct equation? Many have tried to research this topic throughout time to find a set answer about life. Descartes came close with "cogito ergo sum", defined as by a time when Descartes tried to explain our existence as humans by thinking, but just could not go any farther due to the complexity. This shows that objective knowledge cannot even be found by the most intelligent. Life for the most part, at least for human beings, is a series of subjective moments, as much as we would like our truths to be objective. Therefore, objective knowledge cannot exist due to the experience and culture of the individual. Cultures are different, and so are experiences and what individuals ‘get’ out of those events in their lives. We are told to believe lots of information that, due to repetition, we as humans assume is correct based on the fact that everyone around us is also agreeing to it. There is not one set answer to whether or not objective knowledge exists, which thus further proves a point. For example, over the summer I attended a government leadership program in upstate New York. There was a member by the name of Andy, he and I shared on distinct piece of knowledge. He continuously tried to explain to me that the Holocaust never happened in Europe. I responded with a strange look on my face and told him that he was crazy. However, how should I know if it was real or not, or for that matter, how does anyone? I have been told all my life that this event occurred. Just as much information pointed towards my view and did his, and it made me think, who really is correct in this situation?
In the summer of 2007, I went on a cruise for a week, which traveled among many of the Caribbean Islands. On the cruise, there was obvious culture dispersion amongst the guests. I met this kid by the name of Muhammad on the trip. He was from China, and for those of you that do not know, China is a communist state. Communism can be best defined as a system of government in which the state plans and controls the economy and a single, often authoritarian party holds power, claiming to make progress toward a higher social order in which all goods are equally shared by the people. The