![\"Commentary\"](\"http:\/\/dominicanewsonline.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/commentary2.jpg\")
Agnotology is the study of wilful acts to spread confusion and deceit, usually to sell a product or win favour. It comes from agnosis, the neoclassical Greek word for ignorance or \u2018not knowing\u2019, and ontology, and the branch of metaphysics which deals with the nature of being. Therefore, Agnotology is critical in understanding how dictators around the world operate to remain in power.<\/p>\n
Let us position this scenario in a Dominica`s context and ask what is this product being sold and by whom. The product is a deliberate political and deceitful act selling activities through many avenues by abusing the resources of the state to induce poor and vulnerable people and gain their loyalty through deceitful activities, for example, the red clinic and earlier the bin bobol fiasco. I was a target of this method and turned down offers swiftly but subsequently followed with frequent verbal abuse and some foul telephone calls. Meaning, you cannot, must not turn down Supremo Dictator.<\/p>\n
Further to the debate above, we see why Agnotology makes reference to our people because Agnotology (formerly agnatology) is further defined and addresses the mentality of some of our people as the study of culturally induced ignorance or doubt, particularly the publication of inaccurate or misleading scientific data, well for example \u201csomething is happening\u201d, when increased poverty is real and visible. This is a belief or perception as our people get these messages from many avenues all induced into this political melee. The agnosis chant of \u201csomething is happening\u201d is repetitious and when you wake up and look around Dominica all we see is, unemployment, loss of business sector thus creating the increase of poverty, deprivation and the obvious vulnerability of our poor people. Some link agnosis to an indifference to, denial or shunning of; or defective knowledge. Something is really happening!<\/p>\n
It has been observed that a high level of ignorance spreads like wild fire when firstly, the poor and vulnerable of Dominica in desperation to feed their family do not understand the concept of the working of this Agnotological operation backed up with deceitful activities (local parlance bobol), and secondly, when special interest groups \u2013 like circle of lawyers,\u00a0 a politically inclined group work extremely hard and thus create a confusion about a national issue to distract the public deliberately keeping\u00a0 them in ignorance. \u00a0In the case of ignorance about public funds, the increase of poverty, a vastly deteriorating economy and a politically illiterate society will \u201c\u2026\u2026Probably be more susceptible to the tactics used by those (politicians) wishing to confuse and cloud the truth\u2026\u201d (Robert Procter).<\/p>\n
In the context of Dominica and according to Dr. Sam Christian: \u00a0DNO 24\/1\/16, \u201cMorale is at an all-time low and malaise is at an all-time high in Dominica.\u201d Dr. Christian further states that, \u201cThis year\u2019s crop of calypsos colourfully captures that, don\u2019t you think? It is sad that so many have given up on the vision.\u201d\u00a0 Therefore the question is: \u201cWhat don’t we know, and why don’t we know it? What keeps ignorance alive, or allows it to be used as a political instrument?\u201dAnd if we believe Dr. Christian, some day \u201cCompetence and experience will be celebrated, not shunned\u201d.<\/p>\n
We eagerly wait on that day!<\/p>\n
Opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Dominica News Online or its advertisers.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Agnotology is the study of wilful acts to spread confusion and deceit, usually to sell a product or win favour. It comes from agnosis, the neoclassical Greek word for ignorance or \u2018not knowing\u2019, and ontology, and the branch of metaphysics…","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":39536,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_cbd_carousel_blocks":"[]","footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-153998","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-commentary"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n