Zahid's Blog

Thoughts on the Knowledge Society

Never in human history has information been as abundant and accessible as it is today. Every day, terabytes of electronic data are generated and made available to people worldwide. This proliferation of information has accelerated further with the ubiquity of cell phones, e-readers, iPads, and other handheld devices. While the accessibility of information is empowering, it has also created significant challenges: it’s becoming increasingly difficult to sift through this flood of data and extract what truly matters.

The ease with which information can now be created and disseminated has empowered individuals and groups to share their perspectives freely. While this liberty fosters innovation and self-expression, it also poses risks. Political groups, special interests, and even individuals can manipulate media platforms to spread false or misleading information. This has made it harder than ever to separate truth from fiction. The old saying, “everything that’s printed isn’t necessarily true,” is now more relevant than ever: in today’s world, “everything published on the internet isn’t necessarily true.”

Despite its pitfalls, the digital medium of information dissemination is here to stay. It is reshaping societies, governments, and corporations on a global scale. No one is immune to the challenges of information overload.

The Historical Value of Information

Historically, access to information was the privilege of the elite, and knowledge was one of the most valuable commodities. As humanity evolved, power transitioned from physical strength to agricultural expertise, and eventually to knowledge. Today, we are living in a knowledge-driven society where the benefits of this knowledge are accessible primarily to those who possess it. Without knowledge, an individual’s potential—whether economic, personal, or professional—becomes significantly limited. Knowledge is now one of the most fundamental pillars of human existence.

A Model of Information and Knowledge

To understand how information transitions to knowledge, imagine a funnel divided into four layers, each separated by a porous, permeable film. At the top of the funnel, all the information created in the world flows in—ranging from everyday events like a freeway accident or a student’s graduation, to groundbreaking discoveries like finding water on a distant planet billions of light-years away.

Most information has a kind of expiration date that depends on its relevance. For instance, if you’re stuck in a traffic jam caused by an accident, that information is crucial to you at that moment. However, by the next day, you’re unlikely to care about it anymore. This type of transient data can be thought of as “vapor information”—it is created and quickly evaporates.

On the other hand, some events have lasting impacts, such as political upheavals or major global developments. For example, the political turmoil in Libya—a significant oil-producing nation—affects global markets and sparks discussions worldwide. Articles are written, books may follow, and the details of these events might someday be taught in Libyan schools. This transformation of information into lasting knowledge highlights how certain events transcend their immediate context.

Now consider a medical breakthrough, such as a technique where tiny nanobots repair damaged heart tissue. While this discovery might not affect the average person, it is highly relevant to medical professionals, who can apply this knowledge to save lives. This represents the application of knowledge—wisdom in action.

The Importance of Sharing Knowledge

Information, knowledge, and wisdom are only meaningful when shared. Disseminating, utilizing, and propagating knowledge in its true essence is vital for progress. In fact, this concept could serve as a topic for an entire discussion on its own.

The Three Ms of Power

Throughout history, societies have been shaped by three primary forms of power:

1. Muscle Power – In medieval times, physical strength ruled.
2. Monetary Power – In modern times, wealth dominated.
3. Mind Power – In the postmodern era, knowledge and intellect reign supreme.

Today, the power of the mind—driven by knowledge—defines our era. Understanding how to harness this power responsibly and effectively will shape the future of our knowledge society.

Bridging the Wealth Divide: A Path Toward Equity

In today’s world, the staggering concentration of wealth among the top 1% underscores a glaring disparity. According to the 2023 Global Wealth Report by Credit Suisse, the top 1% of the world’s population holds about 45.8% of global wealth. This concentration isn’t just surprising—it highlights a growing chasm between the rich and poor, raising important questions about economic fairness and societal values. While we often hear heart-wrenching stories of single mothers struggling to make ends meet or families unable to afford rent, at the other end of the spectrum, billionaires indulge in extravagant luxuries. This stark contrast not only underscores economic inequality but also invites reflection on potential solutions.

Understanding the Causes of Wealth Inequality

Several systemic factors contribute to the widening gap between the wealthy elite and the broader population:

1. Economic Systems: Capitalist economies are designed to reward those who control resources and capital. This structure inherently leads to wealth accumulation among a small group, often at the expense of broader economic equity.
2. Tax Policies: Favorable tax laws and loopholes frequently benefit the wealthy, allowing them to protect and grow their assets. Meanwhile, middle- and lower-income groups often bear a disproportionately high tax burden, exacerbating the wealth gap.
3. Globalization and Technology: These forces have enabled rapid wealth creation for those with the means to capitalize on them, while leaving many workers behind in an evolving job market that demands new skills and adaptability.
4. Financial Markets: Access to investments in stock markets and real estate has generated significant returns for the wealthy, further amplifying their net worth and widening the economic divide.

Exploring Potential Solutions

Addressing this disparity requires innovative thinking and a commitment to systemic change. Inspired by Aga Khan’s philosophy, “Use what you need and share what you have in excess,” a potential solution involves encouraging voluntary wealth redistribution among the ultra-rich:

• Implementing a Wealth Cap: One approach is to establish a cap on individual net wealth, such as $50, $100, or $200 million. Beyond this threshold, individuals could be encouraged to donate excess wealth or redirect it to public funds.
• Encouraging Voluntary Redistribution: Wealthy individuals could be encouraged to voluntarily give a portion of their wealth to families in need. For instance, a billionaire distributing $100 million to 100 families could transform the lives of hundreds, providing much-needed relief and opportunity.
• Creating a Public Redistribution Fund: Establishing a fund where excess wealth is collected and redistributed could support essential social programs, including education, healthcare, and infrastructure, thereby promoting broader societal well-being.

The Potential Impact of Wealth Redistribution

If wealthy individuals were to regularly redistribute their wealth, even a modest improvement in recipients’ lives could have a profound impact. Such actions could foster a sense of community, compassion, and shared responsibility, paving the way for a more equitable society.

Addressing Challenges and Considerations

Implementing these solutions requires overcoming several challenges:

• Voluntary Participation: Encouraging the wealthy to voluntarily part with their wealth may be difficult without appropriate incentives or societal pressure.
• Oversight and Accountability: Ensuring fair and effective distribution of wealth necessitates robust oversight to prevent misuse of funds and ensure they reach those in need.
• Cultural Shift: A significant cultural shift is needed to value community well-being over individual wealth accumulation. This change in mindset can drive more equitable economic practices.

Conclusion

Tackling wealth inequality is a complex challenge that demands collective action, creativity, and a commitment to fostering a fairer world. By exploring innovative solutions and fostering a sense of shared responsibility, we can work toward narrowing the wealth gap and building a more equitable future. Through collaboration and compassion, a balanced and just society is within reach.

We often find ourselves eager to escape the low points in our lives, overlooking their potential to teach us valuable lessons. By embracing these sad moments with gratitude, we can gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and, ultimately, appreciate happiness more fully. Happiness isn’t a fixed destination; it’s an ongoing quest, a journey where we continually seek ways to sustain a fulfilling life.

Life’s challenges can sometimes feel overwhelming, like being caught in quicksand, where we risk sinking deeper into sadness. In such times, it’s crucial not to rush out of these feelings too quickly. Instead of struggling hastily, we should stay still and reflect on our current situation, allowing us to gain insights and appreciate where we are.

Accepting and understanding our emotions during difficult times can lead to personal growth and resilience. Embracing sadness gives us the opportunity to learn and grow, ultimately leading to a deeper appreciation for the joyful moments. Every challenge is an opportunity to learn, and by embracing this mindset, we can find peace and strength. Eventually, we will emerge from our struggles, and with that comes a richer appreciation for happiness.

By adopting an attitude of gratitude and acceptance, we can navigate life’s ups and downs more effectively. Embracing sad moments as part of our journey allows us to find meaning and contentment along the way, rather than constantly chasing an elusive destination. This perspective can lead to a more balanced and fulfilling life.

Ethics in Our Daily Life

Ethics has become one of the hottest topics in recent years, and rightfully so. From scandals in federal and local governments to mortgage fraud and corporate manipulation of financial records, the list of ethical breaches goes on and on. Despite our altruistic tendencies, ethics is a very complex topic to discuss, especially when it comes to practice. Almost all of us want to take a firm stance on what is right and wrong, and there is obviously no disagreement there. The issue arises in the practice and execution of these lofty ideals. What is one to do when faced with a tough choice where temptation inevitably takes over, and seldom can a person hold on to the values and ethics they are taught and so vehemently believe in?

Why do so many of us take the easy way out instead of toughing it out? This is a question that baffles many of us. In a democratic society where the majority rules, this has a lot to do with it. The definition and understanding of these ideals are becoming murkier. As modernity takes root and more of us believe in freedom of all sorts, yesterday’s values have become less important, and everything goes in the name of freedom. As a society, we have to decide whether we need to draw a line somewhere or eliminate ethical norms completely. Our ethics are drawn from our family, religion, and society. All three of these elements are intertwined and permeate into each other. With the advent of modern liberal society, we tend to, in the name of freedom, hardly ever take a stance on anything. Since we live in a democratic society where a fractional majority makes any issue right, we tend to forget that forty-nine percent of people disagree or have different opinions. This flaw in the system causes many of us to stay quiet and agree and yield to the ideas imposed upon us by the so-called majority.

Another area that needs to be addressed when discussing ethics is capitalism. The notion that we have no limits on how much wealth we can accumulate and that there are no boundaries regarding which laws, morals, and ethics we can bend or break to attain wealth is causing many of us to let go of our moral compass and replace it with a personal compass whose needle is under our command. We have to reassess and rethink where all this greed is taking us. Global economic decline and continuous political unrest may be due to our liberalism toward every topic and issue. Power and wealth should not define morality and ethics. When that happens, we all know what kind of definition we get. Big companies ruin our environment in the name of economic growth. Prosperity is valued over almost any ethical policy, moral value, or sincerity. If our nation is getting fat, who is to be blamed? We first make people overweight in the name of economic prosperity and then treat them for all kinds of diseases in the name of creating the largest healthcare industry. When human values are replaced with dollar values, the outcome is what it is, and this course will not change if we do not wake up and smell the coffee.

Penny-wise, pound-foolish. We tend to persecute people for shoplifting, while corporate manipulators get away with egregious crimes. We hold a student responsible for pulling a prank and put him in jail, while bankers who lose billions of dollars in gambling walk in society with their heads held high. These incidents are becoming so common that we, as a society, have become numb to any pain. We tend to let all the big crimes pass, yet our judicial dockets are filled with cases that should not even be considered.

The path we are on does not seem sustainable, yet we are so convinced that ours is a virtuous path that we export it with force to other countries.

As mentioned earlier, ethics is so complex that we really have to analyze every angle and measure every inch of it. Can we overlook petty infractions and work on the bigger issues, or do we have to apply moral standards to every member of our society? How can we convince people to have a higher moral ground, and what is higher moral ground? The scope of this article is not to delve into detailed discussions of these perennial yet extremely important questions. What we can do is start thinking about the course we are charting for our upcoming generations. Ethics itself needs reassessment; it needs to give us a new moral compass that does not permit us to discriminate against or marginalize people. Where do we leave people alone, and where do we intervene and try to change their course? These are difficult questions and will require grappling with issues in an honest and sincere manner to come up with solutions.

Mullah sat on a river bank when someone shouted to him from the opposite side:
“Hey! how do I get to the other side?”
“You are on the other side!” Mullah shouted back.

Published on Feb 28, 2014
This week, we mentioned on the show that The Aga Khan became the first faith leader to address the Canadian Parliament. Shortly after, he sat down with Peter Mansbridge to discuss civil society in the developing world, and his concerns about Afghanistan, Iraq and the Middle East.

Money is everywhere, and it’s arguably the most used object in the world. People rely on it for a range of reasons, from assessing their financial status to exchanging it for goods and services, and storing wealth. But what if I told you that one day money, not just cash, but the very concept of it, will disappear? You might think that’s impossible, or maybe I’ve watched too much Star Trek. However, I’m neither a Trekkie nor delusional—I genuinely believe that a world without money is closer than we think. Let me explain.

The primary use of money today is to buy goods and services. We go to Starbucks for a coffee or a grocery store for bread—money is essential for our survival. It enables us to buy food, shelter, and clothing. However, the products we consume come with numerous costs: raw materials, energy, transportation, manufacturing, labor, storage, marketing, and transactional fees. By the time we make a purchase, we’ve absorbed all these accumulated costs. We’ve all heard that a bottle of Chanel perfume costs only $5-10 to produce, or that the infamous Nike shoes cost about $10 to manufacture. Yet, we willingly spend hundreds of dollars on these items. The question is, why?

Consider Tesla’s recent announcement of the Model 3, priced at $35,000. During the launch, Elon Musk also mentioned Tesla’s Nevada-based battery factory, which will produce as many batteries as the rest of the world combined. The consolidation of production in one location will drastically reduce costs, especially in logistics. This trend of driving down marginal production costs could eventually lead to a tipping point where products are either given away or new models of consumer engagement arise.

Take NASA, for example. In the past, the space agency would face delays when transporting parts from Earth to the space station for repairs. That all changed five years ago when they introduced 3D printing to the space station. Now, they print the parts they need on demand, saving time and money. Similarly, 3D printing is revolutionizing manufacturing on Earth. A company in China recently printed 10 livable homes in one day, each costing only $5,000. As 3D printing becomes as commonplace as inkjet printers, we’ll be able to print clothes, shoes, jewelry, car parts, and even food at home—at a fraction of the current cost.

Hydroponic farming is another game-changer. These farms use a controlled environment to grow crops without pesticides and with just a tenth of the water required by traditional farming. They don’t even need land—plants can be grown vertically under LED lights. Imagine converting just three buildings in Manhattan into hydroponic farms; they could feed the entire population of the city, drastically reducing food costs by eliminating transportation and middlemen.

We’re living in extraordinary times. Rapid population growth coupled with technological advancements is enabling us to produce goods and services at incredibly low costs. Renewable energy sources could soon bring energy costs to zero, while robotics will revolutionize industries from farming to healthcare. Picture a solar-powered hydroponic farm run by robots that recycles water—the cost of food production (after initial setup) could approach zero. And this isn’t limited to farming. Robots could handle surgeries, mow lawns, do laundry, and much more.

Some argue that if machines take over work, we’ll lose motivation to do anything. I strongly disagree. People don’t innovate solely for money; they do it out of passion. Innovators and thinkers will continue to drive progress, just as they do today. Those working solely for money rarely make a lasting impact, even within our current economic system. The wave of technological innovation is far larger than we can comprehend—from self-driving cars to drones delivering packages—it will transform how we live. And as machines take over labor, humans will have the freedom to focus on innovation, exploration, and enjoyment—without needing to spend a dime.

• Memories of Muhammad: Why the Prophet Matters – by Omit Safi

• God: A Human History (Random House Large Print) Paperback – Large Print, November 7, 2017 Reza Aslan

• Zealot Reza Aslan
• Abundance: The Future Is Better Than You Think Steven Kotler, Peter H. Diamandis
• The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion Jonathan Haidt
• The Case for God  The Case for God