Can Knowledge Be a Burden Rather Than a Benefit?

During life many people try to seek knowledge in order to achieve their goals. Many people think that knowledge is equivalent to power and that the knowledge one has attained is easy to comprehend and deal with. However it is evident that knowledge can indeed be a burden rather then a benefit in society today.

Knowledge can be a burden when the knowledge that one has is truth and the truth destroys a special feeling. This is evident in young children specifically my cousin Bill. When Bill was four years old his older brother Jim told him that Santa Clause does not exist and the presents actually come from their mother and father. When Bill saw that the presents actually did come from his parents he felt depressed. The knowledge that Bill possessed destroyed the feeling of excitement and joy. Therefore it is clear when knowledge destroys a special feeling the knowledge is a burden.

Knowledge can also be a burden when the knowledge is actually gossip. My teenage cousin Jenna experienced this first hand. Jenna was with the popular group of girls in her school and these girls were talking about one of Jenna's other friends, Mallory from Jenna's less popular group of friends. Jenna did not know what to do with the knowledge she attained from these popular girls, she debated weather to tell her friend or to ignore it completely. This knowledge was burdensome because it conflicted Jenna's interests. Therefore it is clear when knowledge conflicts one's interests the knowledge becomes burdensome.

When the knowledge attained causes fear then the knowledge becomes burdensome. My friend John's mother died of Huntington's disease four years ago. This was a wakeup call to my friend that he might have Huntington's disease. However this wakeup call does not mean anything because there is no cure for this disease. My friend John chooses not to be tested for Huntington's every time he goes into the doctor's office. John does this because he would rather not have the knowledge because if he does have the disease he has to live his life in fear of what will happen to him when the symptoms start to show. This is a example of how knowledge would be a burden to John and this is why knowledge is a burden when it will cause fear.

Knowledge can be considered to be power and therefore knowledge is craved in today's society. However with people attaining more and more knowledge this information becomes burdensome. Therefore it is evident that knowledge is a burden in today's modern society.