“Half knowledge is dangerous.” Evaluate the statement highlighting the story ‘The Last Leaf.’
Answers
Answer:
Why do people say "half knowledge is dangerous"?
Because it is
Have you heard of Pareto principle? Also know of 80/20 rule, it basically points out that 80% of the effect comes from 20% of the effort. In other words, 80% of the cases probably is explainable/understandable with 20% of the knowledge.
What’s so interesting about 80%? Well, on one hand, it’s so much that you would think it’s the “general rule.” On the other hand, it’s so little that you almost inevitably run into exceptions. This is the wrinkle. Most likely, you will run into some exceptions, cases that can’t be covered by the 20%. Now what? You won’t understand it. Worse yet, your “general rule” will tend to make a big mess over these pesky exceptions.
Thus, half knowledge is a dangerous thing. Since “half knowledge” is sufficient to explain the vast majority of the situations, you think you know the answer to all situations, except you don’t. And when you try to apply your conclusion, you run into exceptions. When you try to force your solution into the exceptions, well, let’s say it won’t be pretty.
It goes a bit further, though.
If you know of nothing, well, you know you know nothing. So, you act defensively.
If you are an expert, most crucially, you will know the limit of your knowledge, so you will also act defensively. Plus, you have benefits of your knowledge and you will be able to do what you set out to do.
When you know a bit, but not much (i.e. “half knowledge”), due to Pareto principle, you feel like you know the solution (“hey, I know vast majority of the situation!”), but you really don’t. So you get over confident and do reckless solutions.
Lesson: always be defensive, and half knowledge isn’t that bad