What is knowledge? Is it something that is purely based on rational thoughts, or can it be influenced by emotions and personal knowledge? Knowledge is the act of knowing, and yet how we do know the things that we know, and not? In what form does knowledge take? Is it something that must have a physical manifestation or can it be through the form of an experience? According to Anton Chekhov, one of the greatest writers of short history in Russia claimed that “knowledge is of no value unless you put it into practice”. Knowledge is something that can be used to improve our understanding of the world, improve the quality and preservation of our life, culture, and must be passed onto future generations for further advancement.
The Natural Sciences are one of the areas of knowledge that focus on the scientific method to produce knowledge and challenge current conventions about our physical world. French microbiologist Louis Pasteur conducted an experiment called the Swan flask theory. The experiment aims to challenge the dominant paradigm that life springs out of nowhere, also known as spontaneous generation. He made 3 types of experimental setups to test the theory. All would have a swan bottle filled with yeast, sugar, and broth. All samples were heated to kill any microbes present. Setup A will expose the neck of the swan bottle to the open air and allow germs to enter. In setup B, the swan bottle will be completely sealed and Setup C will have the neck of the swan bottle titled to prevent air-carrying microbes from entering. The results showed setup A contained contaminated broth while the latter two show no signs of life. Pasteur’s experiment debunked the idea of spontaneous generation and gave rise to the Germ Theory. This is the foundation of how diseases come from pre-existing microbes and were not caused by something spiritual. The knowledge of Germ theory was passed on and was further supported by Joseph Lister, a German surgeon who gave rise to the principle that since disease only comes from harmful bacteria, it must never gain entry to an open wound, the principle which gave rise to the use of antiseptics. By gaining a better understanding of what causes diseases and how to present our practice of medicine, which is the key for life preservation and economic development. Louis Pasteur supported Anton Chekhov’s view of knowledge by having a practical test to the current dominant paradigm.
A Theory that defines Antov Chekhov’s argument is Albert Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity, which states that gravity is more than an attractive force. It is the influence of objects on the shape of space itself. Based on the idea of General Relativity, Einstein proposed the idea of Black Holes, an object that has enough mass and density to trap light in its gravitational field. The existence of Black Holes was denied because it is something that scientists can experiment upon. It is therefore a concept which does not follow the scientific method. It was not until 1964 that a group of astrophysicists observed that a group of stars is orbiting an invisible object, which can only be explained to be the presence of a Black Hole. Another supporting evidence to show the presence of Black Holes can be detected through the x-rays this matter emits due to the heat caused by friction. The discovery and acceptance of Black Holes prove to us that we can gain a better understanding of our world through observation, and the absence of practice does not change the quality of knowledge produced as long as it can be supported by the rules of mathematics.
The Arts is also another key area of knowledge that is a universal way to express one’s emotions, culture, self-knowledge and is open to interpretation since it is the product of one’s imagination. Art is a powerful way to make a statement about the current societal ills. One of which is the artwork of Kehinde Wiley, an African American portrait painter who is known for reimagining historical paintings and making the subject African American. This is Kehinde Wiley’s way to ask who has the power to be represented in our world today? Historical paintings are used by the aristocrats and of the monarchy are often drawn on huge scales to give an impression of idealization and personification of power, and most of the subjects in these paintings are those of White men. Kehinde Wiley reimagined “Napoleon Leading the Army Over the Alps” by replacing Napoleon with a black subject dressed in modern military street uniform, and by adding floral as the background. When asked for his purpose of creating this artwork, he responded “Art is about communicating power, and it’s been that way for hundreds of years. Artists have been very good at working for the church and for the state, communicating the aspirations of society. What I choose to do is take people who happen to look like me, black and brown, people all over the world increasingly, and allow them to occupy that field of power.” This shows how art is a statement to inspire and prove that Black African Americans can attain financial freedom, and power which reaches the heights of Napoleon while having the courage to face the challenges of being discriminated against in the street and in daily life, a reference to the street military uniform. Kehinde Wiley’s work is in agreement with Anton Chekhov’s view that knowledge, in this case in the form of art, can only be appreciated and responded to if put into practice.
If artwork is not appreciated by the viewer, does it undermine the value of an artist’s work? Vincent van Gogh was a dutch post-impressionist painter who is most known for his painting called The Starry Night. As an impressionist, he strives to show the object or scenery created an impression on him. Unlike his realistic counterparts, Gogh decided to paint on how the subject made him feel. Gogh struggled with mental health and was admitted to Arles mental asylum. The Starry Night was painted from the view that Gogh saw from his window. The emotions of isolation and hope, which can be referenced to how dim the painting seems, and yet is a stark contrast to the moon and the stars shining upon the village. Gogh used Catholic reference to his painting by placing a church in the village, giving the town a sense of unity while the moon and the 11 stars are a direct reference to Genesis 37:9, which states “Then he dreamed still another dream and told it to his brothers, saying, “Look, I have dreamed another dream. And this time, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me”. Vincent Van Gogh died with his art unappreciated and was only known long after his death. The rejection of Gogh’s art during his life is in opposition to Anton Chekhov’s claim that knowledge can only be produced through practice since society during Gogh’s time rejected his way of expression, making his art of no value.
Knowledge is the blend of rational thoughts and how one’s thoughts affect the way we interpret the world. Science is a way of explaining how the world works and is open to be challenged due to the new knowledge that we gain. The knowledge produced in the Sciences can be produced by practical experimentations or is supported by the laws of mathematics. Art is a way to look into the world according to one’s personal values, culture, and history. The knowledge produced in the arts is special since it does not need the acceptance of the viewer. Art is an independent voice that acts as a capsule to one’s feelings. With or without the recognition gained, the artist uses art as a tool to paint a picture of the current world and how it impacted their interpretation of life. The production of knowledge and the classification of what is knowledge and what is not an easy question to answer. Knowledge is a way that we share our wisdom of what we know of the world, how people felt about it, and its impact on society. Knowledge is a continuous story about the innovations and adventures of human life, a story that is worth to be told for generations to come.
References:
Ullmann, Agnes. “Louis Pasteur”. Encyclopedia Britannica, 12 Feb. 2021, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Louis-Pasteur. Accessed 23 February 2021.
Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. “Joseph Jackson Lister”. Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Jan. 2021, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Joseph-Jackson-Lister. Accessed 23 February 2021.
Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. “Blackhole”. Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 Oct. 2020, https://www.britannica.com/science/black-hole. Accessed 23 February 2021.
Mancoff, Debra N.. “Kehinde Wiley”. Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 Jan. 2021, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Kehinde-Wiley. Accessed 23 February 2021.
Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. “Vincent van Gogh”. Encyclopedia Britannica, 25 Jul. 2020, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Vincent-van-Gogh. Accessed 23 February 2021.