{
  "id": 5104887,
  "title": "We have the knowledge to build a better world. But is that enough?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/we-have-the-knowledge-to-build-a-better-world-but-is-that-enough",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-02T14:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Big Think",
    "slug": "big-think",
    "url": "https://bigthink.com/books/how-collective-knowledge-can-build-a-better-world/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Knowledge, particularly when shared and collectively held, plays an essential role in human flourishing, according to Wilhelm von Humboldt. Knowledge is not an end in itself, but rather an instrument for achieving diverse societal objectives. By improving our capacity to produce goods and services, and by adapting to changing circumstances, collective knowledge enables society to reach greater material comfort. This can be seen in the remarkable increase in life expectancy at birth, which has gone from less than 30 years in Britain during the 19th century to over 80 years in Western nations today, with even Africa seeing an average of 63 years.\n\nKnowledge is not limited to scientific information, but also encompasses social norms, institutions, and ways of navigating complex human communities. Understanding the importance of washing hands, avoiding dangerous substances, and maintaining sanitary conditions are examples of useful collective knowledge. Friedrich Hayek stressed that knowledge includes all human adaptations to the environment, including social relations and context-specific information.\n\nHowever, knowledge can also be misused, leading to catastrophic consequences. The development of nuclear weapons, for instance, stems from our understanding of atomic forces but has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands. Haber's discovery of converting atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia, which enabled mass production of synthetic fertilizers, also led to the creation of more powerful explosives.\n\nTo ensure that collective knowledge serves human objectives, it is crucial to have cohesive communities that allow for the sharing of knowledge while maintaining a balance between freedom of behavior and thought. Additionally, such knowledge should be embedded within an institutional context and guided by moral principles that prioritize the common good over individual interests.",
  "summary": "“The grand, leading principle, towards which every argument unfolded in these pages directly converges, is the absolute and essential importance of human development in its richest diversity.” — Wilhelm von Humboldt Knowledge, especially when shared and collectively held, is essential to human flourishing — as Humboldt emphasizes in the [quote above], which was relayed by John Stuart Mill in the…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}