Student 44

The first object I chose to answer the question: ”Can new knowledge change established values or beliefs? ” was my car keys. I felt that my car keys would be the best choice because of what it meant for me when I received my car keys from my parents.Another reason that I chose car keys is because they are a symbolic object that represent the knowledge of how to operate a vehicle. Car keys and driving also have a stigma when associated with teenagers that I myself thought to be true. Before I received my car keys, I was honestly scared of the idea of driving and this was before I realized that objects such as car keys can provide unique opportunities to gain new knowledge that would have been previously overlooked. I had heard dozens of statistics about the fatalities of teenagers in car crashes and this instilled an irrationally overcautious mentality in me about driving. After I received my car keys and got more comfortable with driving, this made me realize that I had been far too worried about a common practice. Car keys are an object that symbolize a pivotal moment in the life of a person in that they open up a plethora of new possibilities and responsibilities. The knowledge that I gained in the moment that I received my car keys and as I continued to drive completely changed my previous belief about driving being some incredibly dangerous task that had an extremely high chance of getting me killed. It is thanks to my car keys that I had the opportunity to gain new knowledge that enlightened me and changed my established beliefs about driving . Without the experiences that I had because of my car keys , I would have never changed my previously established values and beliefs about driving a car. That experience with my chosen object proved to me that new knowledge can definitely change established beliefs because I have witnessed the change in belief firsthand and also experienced it .

The second object that I chose to answer the question : “ Can new knowledge change established values or beliefs ? “ was my 20 pound dumbbell. I chose my 20 pound dumbbell as my second object because of the new knowledge that I gained about exercise and fitness that completely overturned my previously established beliefs and values. When I first started to exercise seriously, I used to believe that barbells were just a very basic piece of equipment that had no versatility whatsoever. However, when I broadened my horizon by doing extensive research about potential workouts with a dumbbell, I learned that dumbbells have a unique versatility to them that other exercise equipment does not. This new knowledge that I gained allowed me to change my previously established beliefs about dumbbells and their usefulness. The main factor that determines the results of using dumbbells is how they are used. If a dumbbell is used improperly with incorrect form or in an unsafe manner then it will negatively affect the person using it. However, the new knowledge that I was able to utilize while using a dumbbell is what allowed me to get the best possible results. Although I was originally skeptical about using dumbbells because I did not think it would be worth all of the effort, I was able to revise this established belief and change my values for the better after I took the time and put in the work to gain new knowledge that ended up being incredibly beneficial. The knowledge I gained was ultimately the turning point that made my values and established beliefs change for the better. The various uses of this object, the dumbbell, are what contributed to my selection of it as my object and what led me to draw my conclusion that new knowledge can definitely change established values and established beliefs.

The third and final object that I chose in order to answer the question : “Can new knowledge change established values or beliefs?” is the first game ball I was ever given by my baseball coach. Getting this game ball was a turning point in my life because of how much it meant to me. My old coach had a tradition where the player he believed had the best performance during the game would get the game ball after a win. Up until this point , I had never received a game ball. I began to place a high degree of value in trying to earn the game ball and I established the belief that the only important thing about winning was getting a tangible achievement to prove the accomplishment. When I was awarded this game ball, I realized that I had been focused on a material item rather than actually trying to have fun. This new knowledge that I acquired after my achievement made my time playing baseball so much more enjoyable because it altered my beliefs and values while also replacing my “win or nothing “ attitude with a more positive outlook. Getting new knowledge on a topic is an invaluable opportunity to change previously established values and beliefs because new knowledge can improve one's perspective. Gaining new knowledge is also important towards changing established beliefs and values because it creates a learning experience that can in turn serve as a foundation for creating new values and new beliefs from a broader perspective that takes all inputs into account. The first game ball that I was ever given by a coach was pivotal in changing my personal values and beliefs because it provided me with an epiphany about how I mistakenly prioritized the wrong things. New is what allows change to happen for the better.