Asked by Ronyae ^(4,454)
Ronyae 38 days 9 hours ago. (More question by this person)

Is most of our knowledge, "hand-me-downs"?

Answer from Sandra E. Graham ^(8,900)
Sandra E. Graham 38 days 7 hours ago. More questions answered by this person)
Mine is. I don't think I have every came up with an idea or thought that someone else hasn't already had!!!lol

Comment from Ronyae ^(4,454) 37 days 4 hours ago.
LOL, I love you, Ms. Sandra!

Answer from Kenny St.pierre ⁽⁶⁹⁸⁾ 38 days 7 hours ago. More questions answered by this person)
YES!! All knowledge preceeded us. It is universal and handed down. All we humans can do is discover this knowledge over time through our senses. It is indeed handed down to us. For example, DNA and molecules preceeded our existence, but not until we developed our senses were we able to discover this primal knowledge and intelligence.

Answer from Gabriel Killian ⁽²⁴⁷⁾
Gabriel Killian 38 days 6 hours ago. More questions answered by this person)
   Selected as Best Answer!   
Yes. Our knowledge, as we know it, is passed down through our experiences. However, it is ultimately ourselves who puts our own "spin" on what we learn. What we know is comprised of a plethora of experiences - by reading, asking, seeing, listening and doing. But everything we learn and know will always be "our" version of it, or "recycled" information with our personalized "stamp" on it.

Comment from Kenny St.pierre ⁽⁶⁹⁸⁾ 38 days 3 hours ago.
Very well said Gabriel.

Comment from Ronyae ^(4,454) 37 days 4 hours ago.
I agree. Well said, Gabriel.

Answer from Ben Morrish ^(7,933)
Ben Morrish 37 days 21 hours ago. More questions answered by this person)
Most of our knowledge (certainly of the scientific / technological sort) is handed down.

Over the millennia, humans have built up a body of knowledge far greater than any human, or even civilization of humans, could build up in a mere human lifetime.

We're constantly adding little bits to this great body of knowledge.

Comment from Ronyae ^(4,454) 37 days 4 hours ago.
Indeed, we are.

Answer from Gregory Lewis ^(1,502)
Gregory Lewis 37 days 16 hours ago. More questions answered by this person)
You're asking to quantify the proportion of the types of knowledge. I don't think that can be done.

One type of knowledge is cultural, that which you have acquired from books and teachers, or vicariously by watching others along the way.

Another type of knowledge is experiential, and therefore unique to you. Your knowledge, acquired through your own experience is your treasure, which you have earned. Others do not know exactly what you know for this reason, because what you learned was shaped by a unique combination of contingencies. The proof of this is that a cloudy day is perceived miserably to some, but delightfully by others. Knowledge is subjective? Then it must be unique.

- G

Comment from Ronyae ^(4,454) 37 days 4 hours ago.
Let's agree to disagree, Gregory :). Good points and answer, thanks.

Answer from Fran Larson ^(28,335)
Fran Larson 33 days 12 hours ago. More questions answered by this person)
Yes, it is only as we mature and learn that we realize there are many unique answers to life's questions and new knowledge and research are available to anyone. Fran Larson