Or perhaps it could be reframed to say that there is no such thing as real ignorance, only less knowledge. The less knowledge they have the less likely their actions are good, except accidentally, since good action “springs from clear knowledge of themselves and God”.
Ignorance then is all the blank spaces, all the imperfection or holes i…
Or perhaps it could be reframed to say that there is no such thing as real ignorance, only less knowledge. The less knowledge they have the less likely their actions are good, except accidentally, since good action “springs from clear knowledge of themselves and God”.
Ignorance then is all the blank spaces, all the imperfection or holes in knowledge within people. Think of a window that is caked in dirt; on one side is the sun (representing knowledge) but its light is blocked in whole or part by the dirt on the window; on the other side is the “ignorant” person who is in the shadow of the window.
When a spot on the window is cleaned, that opens the way to some knowledge. As more of the window is cleaned, knowledge and understanding increases.
So is a person blameworthy if they refuse to clean even a spot on the window, or they may even prefer to cover up a clean spot to block light since knowing brings discomfort or unwanted responsibility. Does ignorance still mitigate blame? Where does the will to act fit in, or does even that depend on knowledge or its absence?
Or perhaps it could be reframed to say that there is no such thing as real ignorance, only less knowledge. The less knowledge they have the less likely their actions are good, except accidentally, since good action “springs from clear knowledge of themselves and God”.
Ignorance then is all the blank spaces, all the imperfection or holes in knowledge within people. Think of a window that is caked in dirt; on one side is the sun (representing knowledge) but its light is blocked in whole or part by the dirt on the window; on the other side is the “ignorant” person who is in the shadow of the window.
When a spot on the window is cleaned, that opens the way to some knowledge. As more of the window is cleaned, knowledge and understanding increases.
So is a person blameworthy if they refuse to clean even a spot on the window, or they may even prefer to cover up a clean spot to block light since knowing brings discomfort or unwanted responsibility. Does ignorance still mitigate blame? Where does the will to act fit in, or does even that depend on knowledge or its absence?