How Does Knowledge Impact the Development of the Self Essay

How Does Knowledge Impact the Development of the Self - Essay Example The views of different authors such as Beth Loffreda, Juhani Pallasmaa, Miller and Spellmeyer as it regards to knowledge will be discussed. The paper will also address how the government, society, religion, family, gender, race and orientation contribute to the creation of self. Acquisition of knowledge Knowledge is acquired through higher education but can also be acquired through plentiful sources such as books, newspapers, the internet, experiences, imagination, and visualization among others. As one interacts with other people in school, work place, social places or even while travelling he or she keeps on learning new things. It is explicitly clear that the acquisition of knowledge can not be confined in the learning institutions alone. Learning takes place every where, whether alone or in the presence of others. Definition of self Self can be referred to as one’s identity, abilities, character and attitudes, particularly in relation to an individual or things outside one self. It is the fundamental qualities distinguishing one individual from another. People have different characteristics and attitudes and this is what defines their behavior and thus identity. How knowledge impacts on the development of the self as discussed by the four authors Human connectedness plays a crucial role in the betterment of self identity in the philosophical and sociological aspects of life. It is the capacity to separate our inner self from the world outside. It enables us to view ourselves as individual persons and also look at ourselves from the perspective of someone else. Juhani Pallasmaa, who is the author of â€Å"The Eyes of the Skin,† focuses on the aspects of reasoning as one acquires knowledge from time to time. Acquisition of knowledge brings one to his true sense of self since it makes him or her feel more connected with other people. Knowledge from various sources helps an individual get the true sense of connectivity and existence by associating with other people in the society. According to Pallasmaa, â€Å"one sense of self is dependent upon many different attributes, for example: their occupation, relationships, likes and dislikes, memories, imagination, and dreams† (286). These make a person unique from others. Knowledge thus helps people perceive things differently and this is influenced by the environment we are brought in. It plays an enormous role since it enables individuals to gravely analyze their actions. Perception brings out the question of one’s identity. We always ask ourselves how others will view us before we act in any manner. This ensures that there exists a healthy relationship with those we interact with. People express opinions differently depending on what they have gone through in the outside world. Pallasmaa argues that people perceive others based on the physical gestures since vision has more dominance when compared with the other four senses. Knowledge acquired shapes an individual s way of life. It thus determines how one behaves, his social status, friends and the general way of living. Pallasmaa also asserts that, â€Å"while using the internet, one may jump from one page to another, skimming articles and reading emails, but this does not draw away his memories, imagination, and dreams† (286). The sense of self is exposed when our senses are used to give reason to our general actions. Pallasmaa implies the importance