On The Power Of Knowledge

Man is a knowledgeable existence. There exists a close relationship between knowledge and human demands. On the one hand, knowledge is a product of human being; on the other hand, knowledge in return molds man, entices him to make more demands, and drives him to release himself from necessity and to move towards freedom. Thus the history of human kind is a history of inventing, creating, producing, spreading and accumulating knowledge.As to the researches of knowledge over the human history, we can sum up three kinds of knowledge paradigm. One can be called classical epistemology or classical paradigm of knowledge research, which is in the period from Ancient Greece to German Classical philosophy. The second can be called scientism epistemology or modern paradigm of knowledge research, which is in the period from Comte's positivism to logical Atomism until mid-20th century. The third can be called post-modernism epistemology or post-modern paradigm of knowledge research, which is in the period from mid-20th century onwards but dates from the 18th century Hermeneutics ideas on the indeterminacy and pluralism of knowledge, characterized by "anti-essentialism, anti-text meaning certainty, anti-scientism, anti-monism" etc. In answer to the conflictions between all kinds of disciplines, thoughts, standpoints, a new academic topic—"power/knowledge" appears in the post-modern theory of knowledge, the researches of which disperse in Sociology of Knowledge, Sociology of Science, Liberalism political philosophy, Post-modernism, Post- structuralism, Pragmatism and Philosophy of science, etc.From the theoretic heights of the theory of knowledge, the author focuses on an exploration on the relationship between knowledge and power via systematic siftings, analyses and argumentations. The dissertation is based on three commonsensical grounds. Firstly, human being is a knowledge existence. Man differs from animals in that he lives in the system of knowledge rather than in the physical universe. All advancements achieved by man either in theory or in practice are inevitably embodied by the fact that the structure of his knowledge becomes more systematic and delicate. Man realizes his freedom by pursuing truth, good and virtue. Secondly, freedom is man's essentiality. Freedom means man consciously uses knowledge system to illuminate himself and the outer world, and represents the power to transcend all the boundaries between himself and the outside world. Freedom is not self-indulgence. The degree of realization of freedom totally depends on the profoundness and universalism of knowledge man has grasped on nature and himself. Thirdly, power has positive sides in human history, but inevitably contains evil.The dissertation has five chapters. The first chapter makes a systematic elaboration on the empirical, logical, and utility factors as well as the attributes of truth, good and virtue in the formation of knowledge. Based on this, the very concept of power factor is deliberately put forward, though this idea has long been embraced by the theoretical tradition and enjoyed a more widespread acceptance in the field of the practice of knowledge. The author's exploration and elaboration on the power factor in knowledge, however, do not mean that he identifies himself with this standpoint; instead he still holds the most appropriate and comprehensive knowledge formation presupposes the unity of truth, good and virtue.The second chapter discusses the aspect of power in knowledge. In the formation of knowledge, power factor plays a key role in the practice of knowledge, the very fact of which is understandably consequent on knowledge embodying a quality of power (or power making an inherent part in the nature of knowledge). Furthermore, once the operation of the aspect of power in knowledge is started, it will inevitably produce a dramatic effect in the form of making knowledge bear a unique power function. As a result, among the corresponding consequences effected by the operation of the power factor in knowledge, most of them are simultaneously produced by the operation of knowledge itself and by the work of subjects that create knowledge, thus functioning as a double-edged sword.The third chapter is on the function of power to knowledge. The inherent power attribute of knowledge brings power to its owner, and power also exerts its specific function, thus forming various knowledges affected by power, which manifest themselves either in the macro-fields such as governmental institutions, or micro-fields such as laboratories in the form of domination, interposition and manipulation in the production, dissemination, change and evaluation of knowledge. Therefore, it is of great importance that the alliance of power and knowledge be specially discussed, their mechanism and causes probed, and their requirement of mutual penetration pointed out.The fourth chapter discusses power and the alienation of knowledge. A direct effect caused by the intervention of power to knowledge is the serious alienation of knowledge. By discovering the reason and symptom of contemporary knowledge alienation, the author proposes some effective solutions to the problem of knowledge alienation depend on keeping a proper distance between knowledge and power, fostering a public sphere of knowledge, and constructing a prospect of pluralism for knowledge.The last chapter demonstrates the relationship between knowledge and human freedom and seeks a way out for knowledge. The ultimate purpose of overcoming knowledge alienation is for the sake of freedom that constitutes an essential part of human nature. By analyzing in detail how knowledge alienation deviates from freedom and human nature, and how knowledge goes back to freedom, the dissertation tries to promote a good understanding of the following problems concerning knowledge: how knowledge escapes the negative influence of power and overcomes its penetration by the will of power, subjective arbitrariness and the tendency to monism and absolute unity; how knowledge exerts the positive effect of power embodied in knowledge, restores that very aspect of knowledge that represents a satisfaction of human curiosity, aspiration and multiple harmony; and how knowledge avoids alienation, thus benefiting society and human beings and leading to a real freedom enjoyed by human beings.