---
title: "Knowledge without wisdom makes education futile"
subject: "Communication English"
chapter: 2
key: "semester_5/communication_english:mere-knowledge-without-wisdom-futile"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_5/communication_english/mere-knowledge-without-wisdom-futile
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Knowledge without wisdom makes education futile

Communication English · Chapter 2: Extensive Reading

- Asked in: 2068 Baishakh (old course), 4 marks
- Video: [Knowledge and Wisdom Summary in Nepali | By Bertrand Russell | NEB | Class 12  C.English #elopeeth](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7acr2goNGHc) — ELOPEETH
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_5/communication_english/mere-knowledge-without-wisdom-futile
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_5/communication_english/chapter-2

## Question

'Mere knowledge without wisdom makes education futile'. Justify this. (Knowledge and Wisdom)

## Short answer

Knowledge without wisdom gives power without moral direction, risking misuse. Education must balance ability with wise judgment to create a better society.

## Answer

Russell holds in "Knowledge and Wisdom" that education which gives only information and skill, without wisdom, is not enough and can even be harmful. The statement is justified for the following reasons.

1. **Knowledge is a power, not a guide.** Knowledge tells us how to do things, but wisdom tells us what is worth doing. Without wisdom the power can be used wrongly, as in the making of destructive weapons.
2. **Narrow specialisation.** Education that trains only experts makes people see one small part of life. They may ignore the effects of their work on society.
3. **Lack of moral purpose.** Knowledge alone does not produce compassion, impartiality or a sense of proportion. A highly educated person may still be selfish, hateful or fanatical.
4. **Danger to humanity.** In the modern world, scientific knowledge has increased faster than wisdom, so that the human race faces dangers it cannot control.
5. **Does not make good citizens.** A nation needs people who can judge public matters fairly. Technical education alone does not teach this.
6. **Wisdom completes education.** True education should develop both: knowledge for ability and wisdom for right use.

Therefore education that gives knowledge without wisdom fails in its main purpose, which is to make better human beings and a better society.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. How does Russell distinguish knowledge from wisdom here?
   A. Knowledge is moral; wisdom is technical
   B. Knowledge tells how to do things; wisdom tells what is worth doing
   C. They are identical
   D. Wisdom is only information
   Answer: B. Without wisdom, knowledge as power can be misused, e.g. destructive weapons. (Key point: Knowledge vs wisdom)

2. Why is narrow specialisation a problem?
   A. Experts see only one small part of life and may ignore social effects of their work
   B. It makes people too wise
   C. It gives broad vision
   D. It improves moral purpose
   Answer: A. Training only experts narrows outlook. (Key point: Specialisation)

3. What danger does Russell point to in the modern world?
   A. Wisdom has grown faster than knowledge
   B. Education has been abandoned
   C. There is too much impartiality
   D. Knowledge has grown faster than wisdom, creating dangers that cannot be controlled
   Answer: D. Scientific knowledge without wisdom threatens humanity. (Key point: Danger)

4. What should true education develop?
   A. Knowledge alone
   B. Technical skill alone
   C. Both knowledge for ability and wisdom for right use
   D. Memory alone
   Answer: C. Education should make better human beings and a better society. (Key point: Purpose)

## Related in Communication English

- [Knowledge and Wisdom: sense of proportion](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fcommunication_english%3Asense-of-proportion-knowledge-wisdom) — Communication English, chapter 2, asked 2×
- [Russell: wisdom more necessary with knowledge](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fcommunication_english%3Arussell-wisdom-more-necessary) — Communication English, chapter 2, asked 2×
- [Difference between knowledge and wisdom](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fcommunication_english%3Adifference-knowledge-and-wisdom) — Communication English, chapter 2
- [Interpret: wisdom and emancipation (Russell)](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fcommunication_english%3Ainterpret-wisdom-emancipation) — Communication English, chapter 1
- [Features contributing to wisdom](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fcommunication_english%3Afeatures-contributing-to-wisdom) — Communication English, chapter 2
- [Difference between impartiality and wisdom](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fcommunication_english%3Adifference-impartiality-and-wisdom) — Communication English, chapter 2

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