Is ignorance a good thing or a bad thing?
By dh1811
@dh1811 (114)
Australia
April 23, 2010 9:32am CST
lets take for example a women who has lost her family members. Even though she know they are gone she still pretends they are there. She buys the same amount of food, for 5 people, cooks the same amounts of food and also buys clothes for the kids. is it wrong for her to be ignorant of this issue or is it ok because she is happy? even though she is ignorant and doesnt want to accept the truth she continues to live far from reality. She has been doing this for several years now and she is happy with it. So would we say ignorance is a good or bad thing in this case?
2 people like this
3 responses
@kedralynn (980)
• United States
23 Apr 10
That doesn't really sound healthy to me... She may be happy now but what happens if something bursts that bubble? She'll break down in a bad way. Sure ignorance is bliss but I always worry about what if that ignorance goes away.
@dh1811 (114)
• Australia
24 Apr 10
well why would anyone want to burst that bubble. That would just be mean. I think they should just leave her. She seems to be living a happy life. Isnt that what most people want. Why would you want to make her sad about her family members. I think its ok if she continues to be ignorant about the case. thanks for your response. appreciate it a lot.
@sk66rc (4250)
• United States
23 Apr 10
In her case, it sounds more like denial to me. But then again, I guess denial can be looked at as "being ignorant to her reality". Denial can be, or can lead to, a serious mental and/or physical illness. I hope for the sake of surviving members of her family, she comes around soon.
@dh1811 (114)
• Australia
24 Apr 10
ya well we could consider denial as a type of ignorance. Because if we deny something we are ignoring it in a way. Yes it is a mental illness. But she seems happy so would it be wrong for her to be ignorant. Would you rather have her sad her whole life over the fact that her family members are not there. Thanks for the response.
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
26 Apr 10
To me it sounds like she is in denial. I think that is a common reaction is you are in a very painful situation. In the beginning you are trying to protect yourself against the pain, and you pretend that everything is normal, because the truth is simply too painful. In most cases the person doesn't remain in denial and after a while (s)he is no longer able to protect themselves against the truth and starts feeling the pain or the loss.
You ask if it is a good or a bad thing that she doesn't accept the truth, that is a very good question. A psychologist or a psychiatrist might be able to help her accept the truth about the situation and I think it depends if she is strong enough to handle the truth. If she is not strong enough she might get a break-down if she is forced to accept the situation. In a way I think that it is wrong to bust her bubble, but on the other hand I don't think that it is healthy to live the way that she does.
