Exploration 9: "The Pursuit of Ignorance"- How to implement ignorance into learning

The video I watched was part of TED (Technology, Entertainment, and Design) Talks, which are conferences held to to promote ideas that hopefully change attitudes, and as a result, the world. Stuart Firestein, a neuro-scientist professor and lab technician at Columbia university was the speaker for this particular video. Firestein first discusses the irrelevance of the scientific method in any field of science, because in reality he believes that time is essentially wasted on worrying about such notions. Facts do not come out of the scientific method; facts come out of the ignorance people have towards scientific inquiries. Within the presentation he develops his point through an idea of his, in which is knowledge is massive, but ignorance is much larger. Though, this ignorance should not be taken in a negative connotation. To him, and many other scientists, ignorance is a never ending supply of questions that result from answers. 

Throughout the presentation, Firestein uses quotes from late notable scientists, which enhances his view on what the progression of science truly is. One quote he uses is from James Clerk Maxwell, an incredible  physicist from the mid 1800's, states "Thoroughly conscious ignorance is the prelude to every real advance in science." This quote represents that even scientists from over 100 years ago had the same belief that Firestein is expressing. Science without ignorance will result in no progress, because inferences and questions thrive off the ignorance of human knowledge and thought processes. Although, ignorance must be looked at as if it were a result of knowledge, and not a cause. In his opinion, knowledge always comes first, but soon once knowledge is attained to a certain degree, ignorance is exemplified. 

Firestein also goes into the topic of weeding vs evaluating. Schools into today's society work on the basis of shoving piles of information at students, and expecting them to regurgitate back onto a test a week later. This method is completely useless because not a single person is attaining any true knowledge to create ignorance. Though, absolute evaluation works on the premise of providing feedback and having trial and error so to speak, which in return sets a basis for learning from experience rather than being told. Finally, Firestein finishes his presentation by implementing quote by W.B. Yeats, "Education is not filling buckets, it is lighting fires", which in my opinion, speaks on behalf of how knowledge results in questions, which results in answers, thus leading to more questions. It's necessary for conscious ignorance to be a part of learning because it is what makes learning possible.

So overall:

• Obtain and retain knowledge
• Make inferences and question what you know
• Conclude with answers, which creates new knowledge and more necessary ignorance

http://www.ted.com/talks/stuart_firestein_the_pursuit_of_ignorance.html