Knowledge and power

Here's a comprehensive list of authors and their commentaries on the topic of knowledge and power, arranged in chronological order.

• Ptahhotep (c. 25th century BC) - An ancient Egyptian vizier and sage, emphasized the importance of knowledge, wisdom, and moral conduct in leading a successful life.

• Confucius (551–479 BC) - The Chinese philosopher stressed the significance of education, moral cultivation, and the pursuit of knowledge as essential components of personal and societal development.

• Laozi [Lao Tzu] (6th century BC) - The ancient Chinese philosopher emphasized the concept of "wuwei" (effortless action) and the importance of understanding the fundamental principles of the universe.

• Heraclitus (c. 535–c. 475 BC) - The ancient Greek philosopher emphasized the importance of understanding the underlying unity and order in the universe.

• Pythagoras (c. 570–c. 495 BC) - The Greek philosopher and mathematician emphasized the pursuit of knowledge and the study of mathematics as pathways to understanding the fundamental principles of the universe.

• Buddha (c. 563–c. 483 BC) - The founder of Buddhism emphasized the importance of wisdom, understanding, and enlightenment as means to transcend suffering and achieve liberation.

• Socrates (c. 470–399 BC) - The Greek philosopher known for his method of questioning, which aimed at eliciting knowledge and understanding from his interlocutors.

• Plato (c. 427–347 BC) - The Greek philosopher emphasized the importance of knowledge, education, and wisdom for the governance of a just society, advocating for philosopher-kings.

• Aristotle (384–322 BC) - The Greek philosopher made significant contributions to various fields of knowledge, including logic, ethics, politics, and metaphysics.

• Chanakya (c. 350–283 BC) - An ancient Indian philosopher, economist, and royal advisor, emphasized the importance of knowledge and intelligence in governance.

• Euclid (c. 300 BC) - The Greek mathematician known as the "Father of Geometry" emphasized the pursuit of mathematical knowledge.

• Mencius (c. 372–289 BC) - A Chinese philosopher who elaborated on the teachings of Confucius, emphasizing the importance of moral education and self-cultivation.

• Archimedes (c. 287–c. 212 BC) - The Greek mathematician, physicist, and engineer made significant contributions to mathematics and science.

• Cicero (106–43 BC) - The Roman statesman, orator, and philosopher emphasized the pursuit of knowledge and virtue.

• Seneca (4 BC–65 AD) - The Roman Stoic philosopher wrote extensively on ethics, wisdom, and the pursuit of a virtuous life.

• Galen (c. 129–c. 200 AD) - The Greek physician emphasized the importance of empirical observation and knowledge in medicine.

• Imam Ali (599-661 AD) - Emphasized the power of knowledge to command obedience and influence people during one's lifetime and even after death. Knowledge is likened to a ruler, with wealth as its subject.

• Al-Farabi (c. 872–c. 950 AD) - A Persian philosopher known for his works on logic, metaphysics, ethics, and political philosophy.

• Avicenna (980–1037 AD) - A Persian polymath known for his contributions to medicine, philosophy, and science.

• Maimonides (1135–1204 AD) - A Jewish philosopher, theologian, and physician who synthesized Aristotelian philosophy with Jewish theology.

• Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274 AD) - A Dominican friar and theologian who integrated Aristotelian philosophy with Christian theology.

• Francis Bacon (1561–1626) - Although not directly credited with the phrase, he expressed similar sentiments in his works, emphasizing the transformative power of knowledge.

• Thomas Hobbes (1588–1679) - Discussed the goal of knowledge being power, suggesting that the more one knows, the more effectively they can contribute to society

• Karl Marx & Friedrich Engles (1818 -1895) – Discussed the acquisition and retention of power by controlling information and hence knowledge

These thinkers from various cultures and time periods all contributed to our understanding of knowledge and its significance throughout history, with their commentaries spanning over two millennia.

Finally, The Sanskrit proverb says that :

“There is no comparison between a King and a scholar, as the king is celebrated only in his country whereas a scholar is celebrated everywhere…”