OBJECT 1: FX-CG50 Graphics Calculator

OBJECT 2: A 70-year-old book of poems first received by my great-grandfather

PROMPT: Are some types of knowledge more useful than others?

Introduction and Summarised Justification of my Choice

In this exhibition, I will be presenting on two objects, a graphics calculator and a 70-year-
old book of love poems which was first received by my great grandfather, and I will be
using their unique characteristics to provide an outlook on the question, Are some types
of knowledge more useful than others?

Choosing two objects which are so inherently dissimilar may at first appear puzzling,
however such a distinction is what will allow me to answer the prompt most effectively.
One, the old, historically distinguished book of poems is a classic example of a prized
sentimental possession, it holds knowledge but in an unconventional, subjective manner;
such an object can be interpreted as an incredibly valuable, priceless piece of literature by
some, while to others, it may be perceived as worthless – as, objectively, it has no direct
practical use.

On the other hand, a graphics calculator is the exact opposite, a straightforward, logical
machine, able to perform a variety of functions and consistently and reliably providing the
correct, intended results.

Herein lies the question, each offer a completely different type of knowledge, one is
unique, emotional, and mystifying, the other is reliable, effective, and objective, so which
type of knowledge is more ‘useful’ than the other, if any?

Real Life Context and Personal Connection

Before we begin to connect these objects more explicitly to answer the prompt, we must
take a closer look into what exactly these objects signify to me and contextualise them.

To start with the book, it was a personal gift given to my great grandfather when he
worked as an engineer in America, from a lover he had there, and has been passed along
the generations of my family as a memento of his time in America. When given the
opportunity to read the book, I was instantly fascinated as if the book had transported me
back to the time when it was written – there was an ink signature with calligraphy
reminiscent of older times, and all the words were clearly printed using a typewriter. The
knowledge one receives from such an object is not quantifiable, the literature itself may
not be revolutionary – the actual content, or information provided by the book is not
necessarily where its value lies. Here, the knowledge provided from this book comes from
its context; it has undergone travels by sea back and forth from America, it recounts tales
of my great grandfather which would be forgotten otherwise, and most importantly, there
is only one copy, it is irreplaceable. The knowledge that is provided from such a book
appeals more to emotion than to logic or reason, it can inspire, and it is unique, however
the question that we are answering today is, is this more useful than more conventional
forms of knowledge.

This leads us perfectly to the graphics calculator. This may sound trivial in comparison to
an object with such a rich history, however it holds a similarly important personal
significance. Maths has always been the subject area which I have had the most interest
in, and what I wished to pursue in later life, and the graphics calculator was a tool that, for
the first time, provided me with the option to go above and beyond in my understanding
of this subject. Given this opportunity to explore all the different graphing functions and
statistical options and much more, I furthered my interest in Maths and became truly
engaged in the subject; changing my outlook and shaping my future goals. I chose this
object to answer the prompt as it is an object which has provided me with a reliable
source of knowledge that has objectively and undoubtedly been ‘useful’, it allowed me to
inquire and to excel.

Directly Answering the Prompt Given This Information

At face value then, it would seem the logical conclusion would be that the graphics
calculator that provides mathematical knowledge is more useful than the historical
knowledge and inspiration I received from the book.

However, before we make such a deduction, we must evaluate the counterargument that
the knowledge from the book is more valuable than that from the graphics calculator. To
start, the knowledge from the book offers more than mathematical knowledge that
everyone has access to, rather, it is a historical source which provides a unique
perspective on the nature of romance and relationships between immigrant workers and
natives in America at the time, and it gives me knowledge that is more ‘useful’, in the
sense that it is more exclusive and harder to obtain. Furthermore, one could state that the
type of knowledge that is provided by the graphics calculator is incredibly specific and
only relevant to people such as me with an interest in the AOK of Maths, for the rest of
the population with varying interests, this knowledge is irrelevant to them. On the other
hand, the appeal of such a book is more widespread to the everyday person, as it is
subjective, many would read it and offer different interpretations, and would marvel over
its novelty and authenticity; none of this can occur with the graphics calculator.

Despite these arguments, we must acknowledge that although the book’s context can be
subject to a variety of different interpretations, this does not imply that the graphics
calculator leaves no room for creativity. Rather, the calculator is a tool, with near unlimited
potential based on whoever is operating it; while many may only use it for solving exam
questions, the calculator has unlimited potential to offer knowledge to the brightest minds
even when making inventions or producing ground-breaking mathematics. While the
knowledge offered by such a device may only be useful for a select number of people,
the potential value it can hold is greater than that of the book, as the information is not
static but is dependent on user input, and has infinite possibilities, while the book’s
contents can only divulge a certain threshold of information in its limited pages.

Conclusion and Final Verdict Regarding the Prompt

Throughout this exhibition, from a detailed analysis of each of the two objects in relation
to the prompt and using specific evidence to evaluate different aspects of the knowledge
they produce, we can make a reasoned argument to whether or not some types of
knowledge are more useful than others in the context of these objects. Here, as we have
explored each of the two opposing arguments on which may be more useful, there are
several varying viewpoints that can be made based on personal preferences. One
viewpoint, typically from a person who does not share a vested interest in Mathematics
and cannot operate the graphics calculator, would reasonably suggest that the
information provided by the book is more ‘useful’. However, others would believe that the
uniqueness, authenticity, and historical context of the book do not make its knowledge
more ‘useful’ for them, and hence would prefer the graphics calculator. For me, in
reference to the prompt, I do believe it is possible for some types of knowledge to be
more useful than others on an individual or micro scale based on their personal
preferences, but one cannot generalise a type of knowledge to be more useful than
others on a macro scale as all knowledge can be ‘useful’ in certain contexts to certain
people. We can see this from these two objects, where opinion would be conflicting
regarding which one produces more ‘useful’ knowledge.