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On entry to higher education we tend to make certain assumptions about the value of knowledge. These assumptions may take a highly traditional form, which can be traced back to the philosophy of Plato, and the Academy of Athens, according to which knowledge is valuable because its possession enriches our lives in and of itself (knowledge is intrinsically valuable). However, the European philosophical tradition contains many alternatives to this view. Knowledge is often sought not for its intrinsic worth but for its instrumental value – for what it enables us to do. Some philosophers have regarded knowledge as an effect or an instrument of power. Still others have regarded it as positively harmful – as corrupting, rather than life-enhancing. This module aims to introduce students to a range of philosophical views of the value of knowledge, and to help them to make an informed assessment of that value.
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| Created August 2009 | Prepared by VP The Value of Knowledge Home page A module of the BA Philosophy programme International School for Communities, Rights and Inclusion | University of Central Lancashire |
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