Students should always question what they are taught instead of accepting it passively.
“The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.” This quote from Socrates embodies the very importance of questioning what we know, as the Greek philosopher imparts wisdom on profound thought, and implements his belief into his teaching. Till now, it remains undeniable that independent thought is superior to that of blind acceptance; however, no one can deny that danger lurks in questioning everything we know. Whether such dangers are worthy of the knowledge we seek lies in the choice of each individual.
The most obvious reason why people should question what they are taught, is that they all have biases. From parents’ and teachers’ personal views to national propaganda, what people learn as they grow up relies heavily on their surroundings. For instance, if a child a grows up in an environment where parents are opposed to same sex marriage, the child may grow up to adopt the same view without the willingness to explore the reasoning behind homophobia. However, if the child is also taught to question what they know, they can also develop a more malleable perspective, and perhaps embrace opposing opinions. A mind that is open to new possibilities is one that should be encouraged, especially in a rapidly-changing world where what is thought to be true can be overthrown in the next moment.
Nonetheless, an affinity for questions can become dangerous for anyone living in an authoritarian regime. For example, the North Korean government withholds information on the outside world from its citizens. North Koreans are left to their own imaginations of what other countries are like, fed with lies about how North Korea remains more prosperous in comparison. As defector Kim Young-il confesses, it was not until he arrived in South Korea did he realize “how unhappy [they] were.” However, to question the authorities while being under its absolute control would be suicide, as numerous defectors have stated the terrible consequences of speaking against the government: imprisonment in labour camps or even execution. In fact, that might be the best case scenario, as the worst would be extended punishment for their family as well. To question is to risk not only ones’ life but the lives of loved ones.
Another risk from questioning is the rejection of hard-won facts. There remain skeptics who question the existence of coronavirus, convinced that the pandemic is a government ploy to have people vaccinated against their own wishes. Manifestations fill up the streets to protest against wearing masks in public, while government officials declare that they refuse to have their children wear masks because they believe it affects their breathing. Thus the questioning of truth is what leads to the spread of fake news, and endangers people’s lives. Doubt in the face of religion also threatens conventional stability, for people need faith. To question one’s purpose in life will lead to no answers. However, having a particular religion allows people to have a sense of belonging and direction in life. If people are unable to believe in anything without constant questioning, it would be difficult to feel at peace with one’s conditions.
Questioning is better than blind acceptance for this is how humankind improves. However, it can be risky to question everything, whether it be the legitimacy of an authoritarian rule, the veracity of facts, or the mysteries of our existence. Having the courage to question everything is ideal, but it should not always be encouraged.
Grammar and spelling errors:
Line 1, column 421, Rule ID: SENTENCE_FRAGMENT[1]
Message: “Whether” at the beginning of a sentence requires a 2nd clause. Maybe a comma, question or exclamation mark is missing, or the sentence is incomplete and should be joined with the following sentence.
...urks in questioning everything we know. Whether such dangers are worthy of the knowledg...
^^^^^^^
Line 7, column 447, Rule ID: SENT_START_CONJUNCTIVE_LINKING_ADVERB_COMMA[1]
Message: Did you forget a comma after a conjunctive/linking adverb?
Suggestion: Thus,
...hey believe it affects their breathing. Thus the questioning of truth is what leads ...
^^^^
Transition Words or Phrases used:
also, but, however, if, may, nonetheless, so, thus, well, while, for example, for instance, in fact, you know
Attributes: Values AverageValues Percentages(Values/AverageValues)% => Comments
Performance on Part of Speech:
To be verbs : 33.0 19.5258426966 169% => OK
Auxiliary verbs: 15.0 12.4196629213 121% => OK
Conjunction : 9.0 14.8657303371 61% => OK
Relative clauses : 12.0 11.3162921348 106% => OK
Pronoun: 43.0 33.0505617978 130% => Less pronouns wanted
Preposition: 82.0 58.6224719101 140% => OK
Nominalization: 25.0 12.9106741573 194% => OK
Performance on vocabulary words:
No of characters: 2969.0 2235.4752809 133% => OK
No of words: 569.0 442.535393258 129% => OK
Chars per words: 5.21792618629 5.05705443957 103% => OK
Fourth root words length: 4.88402711743 4.55969084622 107% => OK
Word Length SD: 2.91600428264 2.79657885939 104% => OK
Unique words: 312.0 215.323595506 145% => OK
Unique words percentage: 0.548330404218 0.4932671777 111% => OK
syllable_count: 897.3 704.065955056 127% => OK
avg_syllables_per_word: 1.6 1.59117977528 101% => OK
A sentence (or a clause, phrase) starts by:
Pronoun: 6.0 6.24550561798 96% => OK
Article: 6.0 4.99550561798 120% => OK
Subordination: 9.0 3.10617977528 290% => Less adverbial clause wanted.
Conjunction: 5.0 1.77640449438 281% => Less conjunction wanted as sentence beginning.
Preposition: 6.0 4.38483146067 137% => OK
Performance on sentences:
How many sentences: 25.0 20.2370786517 124% => OK
Sentence length: 22.0 23.0359550562 96% => OK
Sentence length SD: 66.5972972425 60.3974514979 110% => OK
Chars per sentence: 118.76 118.986275619 100% => OK
Words per sentence: 22.76 23.4991977007 97% => OK
Discourse Markers: 4.36 5.21951772744 84% => OK
Paragraphs: 5.0 4.97078651685 101% => OK
Language errors: 2.0 7.80617977528 26% => OK
Sentences with positive sentiment : 9.0 10.2758426966 88% => OK
Sentences with negative sentiment : 13.0 5.13820224719 253% => Less negative sentences wanted.
Sentences with neutral sentiment: 3.0 4.83258426966 62% => OK
What are sentences with positive/Negative/neutral sentiment?
Coherence and Cohesion:
Essay topic to essay body coherence: 0.216887765749 0.243740707755 89% => OK
Sentence topic coherence: 0.0643374525385 0.0831039109588 77% => OK
Sentence topic coherence SD: 0.074008038239 0.0758088955206 98% => OK
Paragraph topic coherence: 0.12112575017 0.150359130593 81% => OK
Paragraph topic coherence SD: 0.0643706023918 0.0667264976115 96% => OK
Essay readability:
automated_readability_index: 14.5 14.1392134831 103% => OK
flesch_reading_ease: 49.15 48.8420337079 101% => OK
smog_index: 8.8 7.92365168539 111% => OK
flesch_kincaid_grade: 11.9 12.1743820225 98% => OK
coleman_liau_index: 13.29 12.1639044944 109% => OK
dale_chall_readability_score: 8.89 8.38706741573 106% => OK
difficult_words: 150.0 100.480337079 149% => OK
linsear_write_formula: 14.0 11.8971910112 118% => OK
gunning_fog: 10.8 11.2143820225 96% => OK
text_standard: 9.0 11.7820224719 76% => OK
What are above readability scores?
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Rates: 75.0 out of 100
Scores by essay e-grader: 4.5 Out of 6
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Note: the e-grader does NOT examine the meaning of words and ideas. VIP users will receive further evaluations by advanced module of e-grader and human graders.