Unknowers: How Strategic Ignorance Rules the World

The Unknowers explores the relationship between ignorance and power in the modern age, showing that strategic ignorance has been an inherent part of modern power and big business and that true power lies in the ability to convince others of where the boundary between ignorance and knowledge lies.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 384 pages
Publication date: 15 September 2019
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Deliberate ignorance, also known as the "Ostrich Instruction" in law courts since the 1860s, has been a recurring pattern in history where figureheads for major companies, political leaders, and industry bigwigs plead ignorance to avoid culpability. This phenomenon has been observed in various contexts, including colonial power and economic rent-seeking in the 18th and 19th centuries, as well as in the legal defences of today. The Unknowers, a bold and wide-ranging exploration of the relationship between ignorance and power in the modern age, sheds light on the ways in which strategic ignorance has been used to maintain and consolidate power.

One of the key arguments of the book is that true power lies in the ability to convince others of where the boundary between ignorance and knowledge lies. This means that those who possess knowledge can use it to their advantage, while those who are ignorant can be exploited or manipulated. The book highlights several examples of how this has played out in history, including the colonization of Africa, the exploitation of workers in the industrial revolution, and the financial crisis of 2008.

In the case of colonial power, the book shows how European powers used ignorance to justify their actions and to maintain their dominance over indigenous peoples. For example, when European explorers encountered new lands, they often claimed that the inhabitants were primitive and uncivilized, and that they had no knowledge of the world beyond their own. This allowed them to justify their actions, such as enslaving and colonizing the indigenous peoples, and to claim their territory as their own.

Similarly, in the case of economic rent-seeking, the book shows how companies and individuals use ignorance to gain an unfair advantage over their competitors. For example, when a company develops a new technology or product, it may keep its research and development secret, so that its competitors cannot copy it. This allows the company to maintain its monopoly and to charge high prices for its products.

In the legal defences of today, the book shows how ignorance can be used to defend against criminal charges. For example, if a person is accused of a crime, they may claim that they were unaware of the law or that they were acting in self-defense. This can be difficult to disprove, and can result in a conviction even if the person is innocent.

However, the book also argues that true power lies in the ability to challenge ignorance and to promote knowledge. This can be done through education, research, and advocacy. By providing people with the knowledge and skills they need to make informed decisions, we can help to reduce the impact of ignorance on society.

One of the challenges that we face in promoting knowledge is the prevalence of misinformation and propaganda. These can be used to manipulate public opinion and to promote certain political or economic agendas. The book highlights the importance of fact-checking and of challenging false information when it is encountered.

Another challenge that we face in promoting knowledge is the fact that some people are resistant to learning. This can be due to a variety of factors, such as cultural beliefs, social norms, and personal experiences. The book argues that it is important to address these barriers to learning and to provide people with the resources they need to succeed.

In conclusion, The Unknowers is a bold and wide-ranging exploration of the relationship between ignorance and power in the modern age. It shows that strategic ignorance has been a recurring pattern in history, and that true power lies in the ability to convince others of where the boundary between ignorance and knowledge lies. By promoting knowledge and challenging ignorance, we can help to reduce the impact of ignorance on society and to create a more just and equitable world.

Weight: 412g
Dimension: 214 x 134 x 29 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781780326351