Knowledge its Own End By Newman - Notes

Knowledge its Own End

By Newman

     A University is called so because of its students or its studies. It is a principle that knowledge is one whole and the different subjects are parts of it. This is one which he wants to explain in the prose. The second one he wants to talk about is the utility of the subjects to the students.

1. All subjects are branches of knowledge. They are connected to and depend on each other and are equally important. They help in the attainment of truth and influence the students studying the subjects. For instance, combination of different colours gives a new colour. Similarly, combination of different studies gives rise to a better understanding. Strictly studying a single subject will not suffice. Studying all, rather many subjects in a university is not possible. But students studying different subjects can influence each other in a set up like a university. This influence provides wide understanding of subjects and lead to intellectual satisfaction, an essential habit of mind. This type of education is called Liberal education. Thus intellectual satisfaction becomes a habit of mind and this is the special fruit of a university education.

2. This philosophy explains that knowledge has results, purposes and gains. No knowledge is void of use. It is used, if not directly, at least indirectly. We cannot work and get results without knowledge. Likewise, knowledge cannot be fruitless. Knowledge satisfies human mind and this is a gain by itself. This is an internal achievement. Knowledge can also work for achieving external things such as wealth, honour, power and other kinds of comforts of life. These are examples for the utility of knowledge for achieving internal and external objectives of Man. Many a times, knowledge itself is the objective of Man and this proves that knowledge is its own end. Records of philosophy, literature and art of ages bear testimony for this concept where gaining and expressing knowledge are the objectives.

3. There are many people who achieved mental excellence. Cicero is one of them and the first one to say that human nature is attracted to knowledge and those who excel in it are praised and appreciated and those who are ignorant are looked down upon. He also says that we are attracted to acquiring knowledge after we satisfy our physical needs. This means that knowledge is not only the means to fulfil our physical needs but something which is aimed for or kept as an objective to achieve after all physical needs are fulfilled. This makes knowledge itself an objective. He also cautions that man should not forget his duties in the pursuit of knowledge alone because it can be praised only when it is in action and not in a passive pursuit. Cato represents practical people and says that knowledge promises nothing beyond knowledge itself.

4. Everything supposedly has a use. If something does not show up a use it may not be proved yet or it must have an end, a use, in itself. Knowledge is also like this. Knowledge of Liberal arts is also like this. Liberal arts could be studies of subjects which do not involve bodily labour in its end or for its use. So Liberal arts could be those which utilise mental faculty. But there are subjects which involve bodily labour and are still called as Liberal arts and there are subjects which utilise mental faculty and are still not called as Liberal arts. For instance, study of commerce is intellectual but cannot be called a liberal art and wrestling and Olympic games need work both from body and mind to gain a prize and they are Liberal arts. It can be found that the subjects which are professional are not Liberal arts irrespective of being bodily or mentally oriented because professional arts have an end outside while Liberal arts are self-sufficient. Also that those Liberal arts which are used for some gain do not stay one any longer. For instance, racing, which was a sport, was a liberal art until it started to be used for gambling. Professional arts give revenue while Liberal arts give enjoyment.

5. Liberal subjects express an idea like that of beauty or unpleasantness , sublimity or ridicule. These characteristics or ideas are there in human nature and will be there until world is. And so, these subjects will survive age amidst conflicts. Conflicts will arise because subjects will differ in every age. And the winning over them will prove them true. Had Liberal arts been simple generalisations, they would have withered away with the things which were the bases for the generalisations. The speaker says that this idea of knowledge is a philosophy, is a science.

To be continued. ..........