Knowns and Unknowns
Take a minute to read these lines from Plato’s Apology : it is from Socrates’ defense: “I am wiser than this man; it is likely that neither of us knows anything worthwhile, but he thinks he knows something when he does not, whereas when I do not know, neither do I think I know; so I am likely to be wiser than he to this small extent, that I do not think I know what I do not know.” While the sentiment is definitely true, the wording is, well, heavy. Not easy to read. Now contrast that with how the same sentiment was expressed by Donald Rumsfeld: “There are known unknowns. That is to say, there are things that we know we don't know. But there are also unknown unknowns. There are things we don't know we don't know.” Known unknowns. Unknown unknowns. Trust an American to explain an idea in simple (and oh yes, very quotable) terms! Errol Morris, however, warns us of the dangers of the above approach taken too far: “Progress hinges on our ability to discrimina...