The Paradox of Knowledge
“The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don’t know.”
- Albert Einstein
Have you heard the saying, “The more you learn, the less you know”?
Isn’t it funny how there are still gaps in our knowledge during the internet revolution, where we have so much more information at our fingertips than ever in all human history? On top of that, as we learn more, we find the vastness of genuinely understanding a topic to its end seems farther out of reach than when we started.
This paradox, “The more you learn, the less you know,” has made great thinkers pause and marvel at its depth of meaning. This concept lends to our curiosity and insatiable hunger to know and understand more.
How Many Stars?
Imagine lying on your back and looking at a sky full of stars. Each star represents a new piece of knowledge, and each space between each star represents the possible. All of this is right there before you, filling your soul with an urgency. As you look through a telescope, you gather fragments of understanding until you realize that for every star you have studied, countless others remain beyond your view. This metaphor attempts to illustrate the infinite nature of knowledge; it is vast and ever-expanding.
Albert Einstein once said, “The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don’t know.” His words resonated deeply with me and anyone who has committed themselves to understanding things more deeply. In my book, Move or Die, I write about how it is a Hydra Effect. Every time you learn one new thing, five new questions spring forth to keep you chasing the tail of knowledge. Learning becomes a journey rather than a destination—a path filled with curiosity and wonder.
The Humbling Experience of Learning
As a teacher, I couldn’t wait for a former student to return from college during Christmas break.
These young “geniuses” graduated from this school armed with “all of the answers to all of the world's problems.” When they return, they are not as confident in what they know, let alone who they are and what the future holds for them.
They left the little “pond” that a small town and a high school education can make one feel safe, secure, powerful, and confident, only to be thrown into an Olympic-sized pool of knowledge and opinions. They are confronted with ideas that they had never considered, which run contrary to everything that they once held near and dear. If they don’t rework their opinions to that of the professor, they won’t pass the test. If they don’t conform to the views of their “friends,” they will be an outcast.
This is a humbling experience, to say the least. But eventually, they learn how to survive the collegiate pool of information. They find their depth and will have a system of “lifeguards” set up when they begin to sink in the amount of knowledge they are being forced to incorporate into their thinking.
This is only the beginning. After four years, if they don’t sink to the bottom and quit before they graduate, they will be thrown into an ocean of knowledge and opinions, with all the good and bad that comes with coping with today's society.
Alex’s Story
In the Strength and Conditioning realm, my son, Alex, is more intelligent right now than I have ever been, but I know more than he does.
How does that work?
He has a BS in Sports Science and a Master's in Strength and Conditioning. He is certified by both of the major accrediting organizations. I have a BS in Education and a Master’s in History, but I was only certified by one organization.
So, in book knowledge, he is leaps and bounds ahead of me. I outpace him in my forty-five years of training, working, and being around the most brilliant people in their disciplines.
I have two things he is lacking: Experience and Perspective. These are the keys to knowledge. Education gives you neither.
Alex is in the middle of the Knowledge Paradox. He has learned a lot, but unfortunately, much of what he has learned is wrong, and the rest does not fit nicely in developing a successful training regimen.
The books and teachers that held the keys to his graduation have never been in the field, working with the top athletes in the world. They are academics. They live in the world of models and theory. They are the ones who believe that the bumble bee can’t fly because it is aerodynamically built wrong.
One of his professors stated that the human eye could not see a fastball because its velocity is faster than the eye and brain can register. Alex asked, “So all the homerun hitters just get lucky?” The professor gave him a stern “FU” look. Classroom professors are unwilling to change their conclusions even when confronted with real-life facts contradicting their ideas. They ignore the facts and live in their own little world.
I never had this professor. I worked with some of college and professional baseball's greatest hitting and pitching coaches. I learned drills that allow a hitter to see not only the ball but also its rotation and angle so my athletes could make solid contact. I brought them to my athletes and my son, who led his team in batting with a .400 batting average in his senior year of high school.
In time, if Alex is willing to ask enough “stupid questions” to brilliant people, he will break the chains of the anchors that his academic beginnings attached to him.
Embracing Curiosity Over Certainty
The journey towards obtaining “true knowledge” is paved not by certainties but by questions. To truly understand our area of expertise, we must use inquiry and exploration to fuel our intellectual growth. When we embrace this mindset shift—from seeking answers to nurturing curiosity—we will become more resilient against complacency.
Thomas Edison’s perspective was: “I have not failed; I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” Edison was relentless in his experimentation while embracing the failures as additional knowledge, not as mistakes or setbacks. This type of thinking will give us a positive mindset. With this way of thinking, we are more adventurous as we begin to think in ways others have not dared to. This will lead us either to a deeper understanding or can be the foundation for groundbreaking discoveries in the future.
Developing critical thinking skills becomes crucial in today’s changing world, where misinformation can force us down dead-end paths. Instilling a culture rooted in questioning rather than merely accepting facts allows individuals and societies to evolve meaningfully over time.
Learning Never Ends
Understanding that "the more you learn, the less you know" invites us into an exciting and sometimes frustrating lifelong journey filled with possibilities for growth and future success, both personal and for your organization.
As we chase you chase your goals to achieve your dreams, remember to understand that what you know may only be the tip of the iceberg of completely understanding your domain. Never stop asking stupid questions. Never get tired of your pursuit of more information. Never accept that you know more than anyone else.
Always remember, the more you learn, the less you know because you have now expanded your universe of knowledge.
So next time you feel overwhelmed by all that remains unknown after acquiring new knowledge, don’t quit! Continue to chase those unanswered questions – the less traveled road - they hold immense potential for your growth, waiting patiently for the next turn of the page!
Have an amazing day!
