6

I'm interested in the more intricate meanings of the term "ignorance". In my experience, it is being used primarily to express someone's state of not knowing. Somebody can be ignorant and innocent of it at the same time.

In German, the same word exists ("Ignoranz"), but with a different approach: It describes someone's conscious decision to ignore the facts - usually that's a facet of arrogance (or, less often, stupidity). It's more a description of attitude than state. Not knowing is only the result of it. In any case, you cannot be innocent of "Ignoranz".

Does the same subtext exist in English? If not, what would be a better match for the German word?

Improve this question
4
  • How about neglect?
    – Tsuyoshi Ito
    Commented Dec 12, 2010 at 18:21
  • @Rhodri: That's where my question comes from, too. :-)
    – Tomalak
    Commented Dec 13, 2010 at 14:22
  • In Irish English, a person who is described as ignorant may be bad-tempered, bolshy, rude.
    – TRiG
    Commented Jan 21, 2011 at 21:10
  • I don't quite agree with that definition of the German word. See also the question: Ist Ignoranz absichtlich?
    – Em1
    Commented Mar 23, 2015 at 21:22

7 Answers 7

Reset to default
8

A possible English phrase to match the German meaning would be "willful ignorance"--you were given an opportunity to educate yourself but purposely chose not to learn anything new about the situation, preferring to remain entrenched in your current opinion.

Improve this answer
3

Partially.

The word ignorance, (and the adjective ignorant) purely imply a lack of knowledge, understanding, awareness, education, or unenlightened.

It is used both for those who are ignorant harmlessly, by virtue of lack of exposure, and as an insult or negative comment about someone who displays a lack of enlightenment on an issue when they should know better; quite often when they do know better, but choose to ignore the facts. The latter use, as an insult to show contempt for a person is more common these days, often as an alternative for bigoted.

When people "choose to ignore the facts", that fits with the subtext you mention, though when I say that, the person in question usually does not believe the facts to be true. So it is not a case for them of arguing that "black is white", they believe in the opinion they hold; but others do not and think they should not. Usually the division in this form lies in the definition of what is "politically correct".

If someone knew that they were wrong, but doggedly refused to change their opinion, we would say they were stubborn, bullheaded, pigheaded or obstinate. The word pigheaded in particular is used for the bigoted form of ignorant, as it is common to refer to bigoted people as pigs - usually preceded by some negative adjective, e.g. sexist pig.

Improve this answer
3

English can actually make the distinction OP refers to simply by using different inflections...

Your ignorance of a situation means you don't know about it.

Your ignoring of the same situation means you know about it, but choose to ignore it.

As others have said, if you don't want to use the gerund, you can speak of willful ignorance - but the "not knowing" meaning associates so strongly with ignorance that this usually means you have gone to some trouble to avoid knowing (rather than that you know, and choose to ignore).

Improve this answer
1

"Ignore" and "ignorant" come ultimately from a Latin word "ignosco" < "in-gno-sco", meaning "not know". In English the verb "ignore" has come to mean a deliberate not-knowing; but the adjective "ignorant" does not have that implication.

In French, in contrast "ignore" does simply mean "not know", without this implication.

Improve this answer
1

I think there's a subtle difference in the way the term is used that differentiates between the two meanings. If you describe a person as "ignorant" without any other context you usually mean that they're bigoted / obstinate as described above.

e.g. "What did you think of Dave?" "I think he seemed a little ignorant"

However, if you use it to refer to a particular context then it can be used (carefully) to describe the simple fact of not knowing

e.g. "How did Dave get on with the customer?" "He was ignorant of their networking requirements"

Improve this answer
0
1

We have a good match when it results in a crime.

Criminal negligence

Improve this answer
1

"Selective knowledge". Or "lack of objectivity".

A word or phrase that "describes someone's conscious decision to ignore the facts" implies that this person is being knowledgeable only selectively. Also, they may not care to be objective because that would require looking at various angles dispassionately which this person has no intention of doing. In more formal settings and when this arrogance is displayed in order to dismiss another's viewpoint, it is termed "impermissible viewpoint discrimination".

Improve this answer
0

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .