As per Merriam-Webster Dictionary, Politics is referred to as “the art or science of government”. We all need to have a political perspective so that we understand how the system around us works. We have to be well aware of the political system prevalent in our respective countries because without this perspective it is quite difficult for us to amplify our raises and concerns. Knowledge and politics need to be voiced out more because unless and until we figure out the idea behind politics we remain in ignorance and have no clue as to what’s happening around us.
When we have knowledge about politics, we tend to be more informed voters. We understand the policies laid out and we can figure out whether the proposed ideas are going to be beneficial or just a façade. When we have access to that kind of dimensional inputs, we are valued and respected by people who expect us to lead us. We have a precise idea of what we require if they came onto power.
To have an idea of how our respective government functions make us more evaluative. We possess the information to what to look out for and hence we know if they are doing right or wrong by us. Without this information, we will be fooled and controlled and which will lead us to utmost misery.
Knowledge framework
Scope in Knowledge and Politics
Politics has a lot of scope at every woke of the world. It is essential to politics in order to construct a system of adherence and acceptability. It also brings a sense of uniformity to a country. They set objectives accessible to every law-abiding citizen and therefore there will be misjudgment or calculations with the standard of living of an individual.
Knowledge questions
In what ways is factual evidence sometimes used, abused, dismissed, and ignored in politics?
Even when people are misinformed, they simply don’t change their beliefs but hold onto them more strongly. I have seen this in the course of my life and sometimes I myself am a party to such beliefs. Ideological beliefs in the topic of discussion also blind them in disregarding the evidential information right in front of them.
Let’s take an example of Ex American President Donald Trump calling “Global Warming and Climate Change” a hoax and failing to respond to anything because he simply doesn’t believe in it. Due to huge altercations from the public, he tries to cover it up. I personally feel that he still thinks of it as a marketing gimmick.
Knowledge framework
Methods and Tools in Knowledge and Politics
Knowledge question
What impact has social media had on how we acquire and share political knowledge?
Nowadays, Social-media is the immediate go-to place for all kinds of information. Newspapers are now seldom considered by people for news. As today’s generation is viably available socially, social media is the best way to part information. There are rampant discussions that take place on these platforms where youth engage viciously. They are free to express their viewpoints and political parties also give ear to all these opinions. Social media campaigns during elections are also very much in trend due to the hold it has acquired over them.
Even when social media is best suited for the youth these days, the information that is propagated can be of varied biased interest. This might cause the spreading of fake news or biased news. This might give up baseless controversies and one-sided information and in turn, lead to conflicts and quarrels. Publications of yesteryear that’s even before the advent of social media and even the most relied on Wikipedia is also flag-bearers of fake news.
Knowledge framework
Perspectives in Knowledge and Politics
Political opinions are required for a smooth functioning government. Unless and until opinions are raised, we will be forced to abide by the rules put forward by the Government blindly. Political opinions can be formed only when we become informed citizens i.e., we need to have comprehensive knowledge on the political issues happening around us.
Knowledge question
To what extent are our political views shaped by society, family backgrounds, education, or social class?
Political socialization is the way through which we form our ideologies, points of view, political identities, etc. through peers, family, society. This develops a level of patriotism and good citizenship. We are not genetically inherited with political viewpoints; we acquire them over the course of life as we are subjected to different kinds of exposures. We tend to open up more about them and analyze more when we are probably in our youth. As it’s the time we get ideas by coming in contact with people from different spaces of life.
Dannagal G. Young is a social psychologist who explains us to that the kind of social context we are brought up in enhances certain psychological traits which in turn helps or navigates in framing up political ideologies. She says that even if there are two different ideologies coming in we have to respect both instead of canceling out as per the media propaganda.
Knowledge framework
Ethics in Knowledge and Politics
An unethical way of dealing with things probably is in exact co-relation with political leaders. There have been umpteen instances where there have been shifts in ideologies of political leaders and them switching from one party to another. This puts forward the question as to how do we take their judgments for us to be beneficial? As they flip one-party ideology to another, how is it that we have to deliberately believe that they are doing good by us?
Here in this video, CNN tries to put forward the fact that being truthful completely to the public never yields good results, they are putting an eye on political deception.
Politics is the lifeblood of a governance system. Without having a credible system, it is quite difficult to enhance the clean functioning of the Government. When different ideologies come together it paves way for more and more options of betterment for the citizens. Politics has to be instilled in the minds of young people from a very early stage. Through this, they are able to form opinions and unbiased ones for that matter which helps them to analyze and respect what they want and to strive for in the future. It also encourages more of the youth to be invested in politics and come out and take the reigns of power when the time comes.
If you like what you read, you might consider reading knowledge and Indigenous societies.
Also, check out more details on the theory of knowledge. Visit www.theoryofknowledge.online
