In factories and schools alike, people were trained to:
In this system, not knowing was seen as a flaw—a disruption to the smooth, predictable machinery of production.
Mistakes meant waste, and asking questions slowed things down.
Over time, this bled into education and workplace culture:
“If you don’t know, you’re unprepared. If you’re unprepared, you’re unreliable.”
Cultural Reinforcement
Many societies (especially Western ones shaped by industrial capitalism) valorize:
From a young age, children are often praised for having the right answer, not for asking thoughtful questions.
In school, wrong answers are marked in red; in workplaces, admitting ignorance can be seen as weakness.
This creates a performance culture rather than a learning culture.
The Illusion of Competence
Social media amplifies this. People curate highlight reels of expertise, making it seem like everyone else “has it figured out.”
New learners compare their behind-the-scenes struggles to others’ polished outputs—and feel inadequate.
But Learning Requires Not-Knowing
Ironically, true learning begins with acknowledging ignorance.
Socrates famously said, “I know that I know nothing”—a stance of intellectual humility that opens the door to growth.
In fields like science, art, or coding, beginners are essential: they ask naive questions that experts overlook, challenge assumptions, and bring fresh perspectives.
Shifting the Mindset
There’s a growing movement toward psychological safety (a term popularized by Amy Edmondson) in teams and classrooms—where it’s safe to say “I don’t know” or “I’m still learning.”
This is the antidote to industrial-era shame.