Sunday, March 15, 2020

GAS EXPLOSION IN LAGOS STATE

Many people were feared death on Sunday in a suspected pipeline explosion at Abule Ado in Amuwo Odofin Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos.
Houses were also burnt with several residents trapped in the explosion that left many homeless and injured.
The explosion started around 9am when churches in the area were holding services, with many of them seriously affected.
But the Lagos State Fire Service spokesperson, Shakiru Amodu, said the incident was an “implosion” not explosion.
He assured efforts were ongoing to quell the fire.
“It has even extended to the pipeline. We are managing the situation, but it is massive here. All agencies are working harmoniously to put out the fire,” Amodu said.
Ibrahim Farinloye, the Acting Coordinator, Lagos Territorial Office of NEMA, also said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the explosion was not connected to pipeline vandalism.
“From the information given by officials of the Lagos State Fire Service who are currently on the ground, the implosion is not connected to pipeline but might have occurred in a factory located in the Abule Ado area.
“Emergency responders are on ground while others are still on their way to the scene. The situation is under control and we hope to get more information soon to ascertain its cause,” he said.
About 10 fire trucks had arrived at the scene while men from the Lagos State Fire Service, Federal Fire Service, Nigerian Navy, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, and others were making efforts to quell the fire.

KNOWLEDGE AS POWER

     
         ABSTRACT
As we move through our modern world, the phenomenon we call knowledge is always involved. Knowledge is a situation imperative to us humans as it makes us feel cognitively at home in our habitat. Whether we talk of Know-how, technology, innovations, politics or education, it is the concept of knowledge that ties them all together. But despite it's ubiquity as a modern trope, we soldom encounter knowledge in itself. Knowledge is the mother of all discoveries and inventions. A knowledgeable person is respected and given responsibility accordingly. With responsibilities comes power and authority. But we tend to ask these questions; "how is knowledge produced? Where does it reside and who owns it? Is knowledge always beneficial? Will we know all there is to know at some point in the future and does knowledge really equals to power?. This book pursues an original approach to this concept that seems to define so many aspects of modern societies. It explores the topic from a distinctly sociological perspective and traces many ways that knowledge is woven into the very fabric of modern society.


                      INTRODUCTION
The hunt for knowledge has never been easier. Hard questions can be answered with a few keystrokes. Our individual powers of memory, perception and reasoning can be double-checked by distant friends and experts with minimal effort.
The phrase "scientia potentia est" a Latin aporism always claimed to be mean organized "knowledge is power" is commonly attributed to Sir Francis Bacon. But there is no known occurrence of this precise phrase in Bacon's English or Latin writing. Instead, phrase "scientia potentia est" was written for the first time in 1651 work 'Leviathan' by Thomas Hobbes, who was the secretary to Bacon as a young man. The related phrase "sapientia est potentia is often translated as "wisdom is power". In sociology, the French philosopher Michel Foucault has contributed to the popularity of the term 'power-knowledge' (French: le savoir pouvoir). According to Foucault's understanding of power, power is based on knowledge and makes use of knowledge. On the other hand, power reproduces knowledge by shaping it in accordance with it's anonymous intentions. Power creates it's own field of exercise through knowledge.
The claim of knowledge is power made by Francis Bacon has been universally well-known. Originally, it was proposed to stress the importance of knowledge in science and an academic spirit because human were experiencing a major scientific revolution at that time and information technology was not as developed as now to spread knowledge. In view of what knowledge is, let's go check some of these popular quotes;
     "Is there anything science should not try to explain?
      Science is knowledge and knowledge is power -
       Power to do good or evil" (Paul Davies)
      "For sure, knowledge brings great benefits.
       relief of ignorance is foremost among  them"
         (Rescher, vii).
        "All by nature desire knowledge" (Aristotle).
What at first seems as knowledge can turn out to be something else than the real thing. Reflecting on the difficult of enquiry, we can find ourselves wondering exactly what this real thing might be. What is knowledge? What is power? What is the difference between thinking that something is true and actually knowing it is? How are we able to know anything at all?.
                     KNOWLEDGE AND POWER
According to French philosopher Michel Foucault understanding of power, power is based on knowledge and makes use of knowledge. Knowledge is defined as a higher form of information which requires understanding the patterns and creating useful meaning of the information people collect. But, how do I know what I know? What differentiates knowledge from mere opinion?. These questions are ancient ones and the branch of philosophy dedicated to answering them is EPISTEMOLOGY. Epistemology is coined from two Greek words, "epistemology" which means "knowledge" and "logus" meaning " rational discourse or theory of. In real sense, epistemology means rational discourse of knowledge or of throry of knowledge. It is the branch of philosophy that deals with the origin and structure of knowledge as well as method and validity of knowledge acquisition. One question have remained constant throughout this time; How does knowledge relate to truth?. The responses can be classified under the following:-
SCEPTICISM:- Scepticism is a philosophical principle that rejects the notion that real knowledge or truth is possible. There are two variant of scepticism; Moderate (accepts the possibility of certain forms of knowledge) and Extreme scepticism (claims no knowledge is possible).
RATIONALISM:- This hold that knowledge is absolutely possible and can be derived only through the faculty of reason. It states knowledge as that which is established independently of experience through reasoning.
EMPERICISM:- Empericism holds that if knowledge is achieveable, it must only be through experience.
CONSTRUCTIVISM:- This philosophical position on the possibility of knowledge is derived from the epistemology of Immanuel Kant who appeared as a bridge builder between rationalism and empericism.
                    SOURCES OF KNOWLEDGE
Knowledge is derived through rationalism, books, intuition, sense through experiment, appeal to authority, social media etc.
                     NATURE OF KNOWLEDGE
The two nature of knowledge are Objectivism and Subjectivism. Objectivism is based on facts rather than personal feelings. On the other hand, Subjectivism is based on personal opinion and feelings rather than facts. It is the belief that things don't have presence without information.
                    IMPORTANCE OF KNOWLEDGE
- Knowledge gives power to human beings to know how to control the forces of nature and use them for getting benefits.
- Through knowledge we are able to differentiate between the right and wrong, good and bad.
- Knowledge improves thinking
- Knowledge is the key to success.
                        IMPORTANCE OF POWER
- Power is the ability or capacity to do something.
- Power is authority granted or assumed.
- Power is ideas, ideals and intuitions.
                          TYPES OF KNOWLEDGE
- REVEALED OR DIVINE KNOWLEDGE:- This is knowledge derived through divine revelation . It requires faith.
- INTUITIVE KNOWLEDGE:- This is knowledge generated from insight without getting through a conscious process of reasoning.
- RATIONAL KNOWLEDGE:- This is knowledge acquired through reasoning. It is also know as priori knowledge.
- EMPERICAL KNOWLEDGE:- This is knowledge derived through sense experience. It is based on the confirmation of observation and experiment of our sense organ.
- AUTHORITATIVE KNOWLEDGE:- This is knowledge acquired not only on the basis of the nature of the objects but on the claim of someone's authority.
Meanwhile, power has been an important aspect of human civilization since time imemorial. Power might be physical, political or social. Power can be classified into five namely:- COERCIVE POWER:- This kind of power uses threat to make people do what one desire.
- REWARD POWER: Uses reward, perks, new project or training opportunities, better roles and monetary benefits to influence people.
- LEGITIMATE POWER:- Emanates from an official position held by someone, be it an organization, beurocracy or government etc. It's duration is short lived.
- EXPERT POWER: Personal kind of power which owes it's genesis to the skills and expertise possessed easily available. In such a situation, the person can exercise the power of knowledge to influence people. Since it is skill enhanced with time, it has more credibility and respect.
- REFERENT POWER:- This is a power wielded by celebrities and film stars as they have huge amongst masses who like them, identify with them and follow them.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN KNOWLEDGE AND POWER
Power is based on knowledge and makes use of knowledge. Power produce knowledge by shaping it in accordance with it's anonymous intentions. Power creates it's own field of exercise through knowledge.
Knowledge is power means a person has education and complete control on his life by using that knowledge. knowledge is the strongest tool providing power to the people and it cannot defeated by anything on earth. Knowledge has created a difference between human and animal by giving power to human to control control the forces of nature and use them for getting benefits. Knowledge makes a person more powerful by giving him mental and moral advancement in life. It is an important tool to getting positive changes in the society and country. It is the pillar to success and happiness. In a nutshell, knowledge keep peace in the society by keeping people away from fights and other social evil. Therefore, power is Constituted through accepted forms of knowledge, scientific understanding and truth.
                             CONCLUSION
In conclusion, knowledge indeed is power as it helps us think for ourselves and make our own autonomous judgement about any matter without having to rely on what other people tell us or think. Power is Constituted through accepted forms of knowledge, scientific understanding and truth. Power is based on knowledge and makes use of knowledge and also create it's own field of exercise through knowledge. Also, knowledge makes a person more powerful by giving him mental and moral advancement in life.















                                  BIBLIOGRAPHY
- Bartleby research, Knowledge is power (July, 2020)
- Brain quotes: Knowledge is power, Paul Davies- (Jan. 2016)
- Quora:- relationship between knowledge and power(www.quora.com)(Mar. 2009)
- Management study guide:-(Different types of power)
-Man and issues of knowledge, Francis Esikot,  PhD and Adekunle A. Ibrahim- University of Uyo, Uyo.
-Popper, Karl P. (Conjectures and refutations): The growth of scientific knowledge.  London Routhledge, 1989.
- Research gate:- knowledge is power (published may, 2017) by Marian Thomas Adolf - Zappelin university, Nico stehr Zappelin University
- Researcher, Nicholas. Epistemology: An introduction to the theory of knowledge. New York State University of New York press, 2003.
- The Nation: knowledge is power by Abdul Wadoo, Lahore, September 6, 2018.