Theory of Knowledge Essay
Do we need custodians of knowledge? Discuss in reference to history and human
sciences.
Word count: 1600 words
Personal Code: mbl321
1
, Introduction
One important aspect of the development of humanity and its history has always been the
persistent research for and the conservation of knowledge. The term knowledge refers to the
comprehension that is gained through study, experience, or reflection, which evolves constantly
as our perspectives and understanding deepen ¹.
Particularly in the areas of knowledge of history and human sciences, the question of if
we need or not custodians of knowledge needs to be assessed to provide meaningful reflection on
their role, as there is still no agreement on the topic. One point of controversy surrounds two key
questions: Who can be a guardian? Are they omniscient?
The guardian's role can be held by individuals and communities that are deeply involved in
knowledge preservation. Their role should include ensuring the accuracy, inclusivity, and ethical
integrity of historical facts and scientific discoveries.
Guardians, however, do not need to know everything, in my opinion. It would be unrealistic and
unnecessary to pretend such levels of knowledge, however, they must have a very deep
comprehension and wisdom of their fields of study.
I have chosen to focus my research on history and the human sciences because I believe that
these fields can significantly change people's values and beliefs leading to a change in their
knowledge and affecting also the way they behave in society, this is why we need to clarify
custodians’ role.
History
Preserving knowledge is crucial for forming the basis of our common understanding of
the complicated timeline of historical events.
The first example is Christopher Columbus's "discovery" of America and how its impact
on different civilizations is displayed. The way the discovery was described in my history book
in a European high school emphasized a lot the importance and positive effects of Columbus’s
discovery, highlighting mainly the role Europe had ². The book however failed to include the
negative sides and impact this event had on indigenous cultures. Europe’s perspectives can
sometimes be considered more influential than others, resulting in an altered historical narrative
that marginalizes other viewpoints. It is therefore fundamental to understand both the Eurocentric
side but also other perspectives that should not be overshadowed. The decisions made regarding
custodianship could contribute to biased narratives, suggesting that custodians should reflect on
the impact of their beliefs on them. However, the understanding emerges recognizing that
custodians also influence how history is told. Custodians serve as gatekeepers, balancing
different viewpoints to give an inclusive narrative of historical events.
The second example focuses on the custodial responsibility of preserving historical
artifacts and the negligence that led to the loss of valuable knowledge from the Library of
Alexandria ³. In this case custodianship aligns with the maintenance of historical documents and
artifacts, especially the idea that some of them might receive better preservation treatment due to
their perceived historical significance. The custodians failed to protect the Library of Alexandria,
a symbol of ancient knowledge, representing a real loss of significant finds. Custodians create
2
Do we need custodians of knowledge? Discuss in reference to history and human
sciences.
Word count: 1600 words
Personal Code: mbl321
1
, Introduction
One important aspect of the development of humanity and its history has always been the
persistent research for and the conservation of knowledge. The term knowledge refers to the
comprehension that is gained through study, experience, or reflection, which evolves constantly
as our perspectives and understanding deepen ¹.
Particularly in the areas of knowledge of history and human sciences, the question of if
we need or not custodians of knowledge needs to be assessed to provide meaningful reflection on
their role, as there is still no agreement on the topic. One point of controversy surrounds two key
questions: Who can be a guardian? Are they omniscient?
The guardian's role can be held by individuals and communities that are deeply involved in
knowledge preservation. Their role should include ensuring the accuracy, inclusivity, and ethical
integrity of historical facts and scientific discoveries.
Guardians, however, do not need to know everything, in my opinion. It would be unrealistic and
unnecessary to pretend such levels of knowledge, however, they must have a very deep
comprehension and wisdom of their fields of study.
I have chosen to focus my research on history and the human sciences because I believe that
these fields can significantly change people's values and beliefs leading to a change in their
knowledge and affecting also the way they behave in society, this is why we need to clarify
custodians’ role.
History
Preserving knowledge is crucial for forming the basis of our common understanding of
the complicated timeline of historical events.
The first example is Christopher Columbus's "discovery" of America and how its impact
on different civilizations is displayed. The way the discovery was described in my history book
in a European high school emphasized a lot the importance and positive effects of Columbus’s
discovery, highlighting mainly the role Europe had ². The book however failed to include the
negative sides and impact this event had on indigenous cultures. Europe’s perspectives can
sometimes be considered more influential than others, resulting in an altered historical narrative
that marginalizes other viewpoints. It is therefore fundamental to understand both the Eurocentric
side but also other perspectives that should not be overshadowed. The decisions made regarding
custodianship could contribute to biased narratives, suggesting that custodians should reflect on
the impact of their beliefs on them. However, the understanding emerges recognizing that
custodians also influence how history is told. Custodians serve as gatekeepers, balancing
different viewpoints to give an inclusive narrative of historical events.
The second example focuses on the custodial responsibility of preserving historical
artifacts and the negligence that led to the loss of valuable knowledge from the Library of
Alexandria ³. In this case custodianship aligns with the maintenance of historical documents and
artifacts, especially the idea that some of them might receive better preservation treatment due to
their perceived historical significance. The custodians failed to protect the Library of Alexandria,
a symbol of ancient knowledge, representing a real loss of significant finds. Custodians create
2
