In this weeks reading, Chuang Tzu, discusses the importance of knowledge in Part C. The viewpoint discussed in the story had never crossed my mind before.
The quote, “A good cook changes his knife once a year-because he cuts. A mediocre cook changes his knife once a month-because he hacks. I’ve had this knife of mine for nineteen years and I’ve cut up thousands of oxen with it, and yet the blade is as good as though it had just come from the grindstone” stood out to me.
This metaphor touches on the idea of knowledge in a range of deep ways. I understood the knife represented the range of knowledge. As many derail from their paths of knowledge, others continue to build on their paths. There are other individuals that choose to continue their knowledge paths, holding onto their previous knowledge and mastering it. I have learned from this metaphor that the people of this culture value mastering knowledge and showing pride in this.
After much thought, I realized that our own society revolves around the same concept. As a college student, I am working to receive a degree in order to master my major, marketing. Future employers look for degrees as it is important for employees to have much knowledge in their fields.