Author's note: This text was prepared for an oral presentation. It explores the tension between instant knowledge and learning through effort, particularly relevant in the age of artificial intelligence.
The impossible dream
Who wouldn't want to know everything? Nothing escapes you. Nothing surprises you. You truly possess all knowledge. But at what cost? No more pleasure of discovery. No more curiosity. Is it really worth it?
Medieval origins
The French expression avoir la science infuse (to have infused knowledge) refers to someone who claims to know everything. Its origin dates back to the Middle Ages. At the time, infused knowledge designated the knowledge that God poured directly into the mind of Adam, the very first human being according to biblical tradition. This knowledge was infused into him without him needing to learn or study.
For my part, I think such an infusion wouldn't be a luxury… especially during a mathematics exam.
Divine versus human
The distinction between infused knowledge and acquired knowledge served to separate the divine from the human. So-called "natural" knowledge required effort, study, and perseverance: it was absorbed drop by drop. Infused knowledge, on the other hand, was supernatural, poured all at once into the understanding.
The word science could designate any form of knowledge: from botany to astronomy, including chemistry, physics… and even more important fields, such as felinology — the science of cats.
Modern irony
Today, the expression is used with irony. It describes someone who believes themselves to be learned without having studied. But here's the thing: nowadays, ultimate knowledge is no longer just an ideal born of pride. It has become an illusion that gradually infiltrates our minds.
We are overwhelmed by information that is both useful and useless, noble and divisive. It's the dream of Faust or King Solomon, now within everyone's reach: infinite knowledge.
The fundamental question: Where is the balance between knowledge and wisdom? If the steps of progress were faster than those of wisdom, wouldn't we run straight into a wall or, to not be too dramatic, into an airbag?
The ocean of information
Indeed, we are bathing in an ocean of information. For some, we are drowning. This inevitably leaves us with certain questions.
By reading a few lines produced by artificial intelligence, do we become experts? Does this qualify us to advise or decide in the same way as specialists with many years of experience?
Clothes don't make the man, it's true: experts can be wrong — that's equally true. But, speaking of sayings, let's also remember this one: you can't teach an old dog new tricks. Experience matters, especially through thick and thin.
However, an abundance of opinions does not equal an abundance of wisdom. What is certain is that all opinions are not equal.
Invitation to reflection
This reflection is just an invitation to think. Do you believe in infused knowledge? Do you think knowledge can be received through simple digital effusion, or that it is acquired, drop by drop, through effort?
Being a mathematics student, it seems appropriate to conclude with this quote from Bronowski.
The beauty of learning
Dear listeners, science is not beautiful because it knows everything, but because it pushes us to search, to explore, to fail certainly but to bounce back.
And perhaps, ultimately, being human means learning without ever claiming to have finished.