The Ethical Value of Knowledge

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Determining the value of anything can be difficult—especially when you can’t see it or measure it.  That is why it is so complex to put a value on knowledge.  Does it have a price, and if so, what is a reasonable, yet fair price?  Does it need to have a price, or is knowledge a God-given right like the pursuit of happiness?  The monetary value should not be the end-all-be-all.  We need to be measuring knowledge based on its ethical value.

When we think of the ethical value of knowledge, we should be thinking about its degree of importance in relation to the betterment of our individual lives and our global society.  Core topics such as integrity, honesty, fidelity, charity, responsibility, and self-discipline are measured based on ethical values (Bucknam, 2020).  Why can't we do the same with knowledge?  An individual's access to knowledge should not depend on their bank account... is someone entitled to more knowledge just because they can afford it?  "To value something is to appreciate it, respect it, and acknowledge its importance; in spite of this, our society’s definition of value revolves around dollar amounts, and I do not think that is right or just when it comes to valuing knowledge" (Humphrey, 2023).  


Figure 1: Conceptual Framework

Diving down this rabbit hole of the ethical value of knowledge allowed me to discover Tina Ta's research The Origins of Ethical Knowledge in resolving Ethical Dilemmas in Teaching (2016).  While looking at the diagram above, the two bubbles that stand out are "relationships with others" and "understanding and communication."  Relationships... like clockwork, that term is showing up when someone is discussing knowledge.  Those relationships allow us (global citizens) to effectively communicate and understand each other—which in turn, fosters new knowledge and modern knowledge sharing on a global level.

So again, I ask the question "Should knowledge be bought/sold like an item from a department store?  Or should it be given freely since it leads to the betterment of a global society?"  I know what side of the debate I am on, but what about you?


Works Cited

Bucknam, R. (2020, January 22). Recommended Core Ethical Values. Murdough Center for Engineering Professionalism. https://www.depts.ttu.edu/murdoughcenter/products/resources/recommended-core-ethical-values.php

Humphrey, D. (2023). The Value of Knowledge.

Ta, T. (2016). The Origins of Ethical Knowledge in resolving Ethical Dilemmas in Teaching.

Comments

  1. Sean CahillJune 6, 2023 at 2:44 PM

    The question, whether or not knowledge has a price is a good one. One must consider the ways in which knowledge is acquired and the avenues that are opened once knowledge is obtained. One way is through formal education. There are countless barriers for some to receive a formal education. Means of transportation to get to the schools, not having money for the aspects of education that would require payment (new clothes, book fees, tuition, etc.), jobs that might stand in the way for the students that have to work to help with family needs, ability to have differentiated learning needs met by the schools attended, are just a few of the many examples.

    While there are other ways to acquire knowledge, not many of them come free of charge. The barriers that society puts up to learning information are vast. Fr. Greg Boyle SJ talks about the margins of society where people are left to be forgotten. These members of society who find themselves on the margins, many of them, have had a difficult time obtaining knowledge, ways to get out of their less-than-ideal living situation. It is our job to go out to the margins, be with those members of society and ensure they have the knowledge and tools to come from the margins and feel like they are wanted, needed, in the community. For when we go out to the margins and accompany those members of society the margins might one day disappear. The gap between those on the margins and those who are not might one day cease to exist, justice will have been reached. The price of knowledge will have disappeared, and equity will have been found.

    That should be the goal. Take the price of knowledge and ensure it is one day down to $0.

    Thank you for your post and the work you are doing to bring attention to these critical questions.

    ReplyDelete

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