•:~ Does the Pursuit of Knowledge Diminish Our Sense of Wonder?

[Barnette ⋆˙⟡ (my girlfriend's version), Creator, Head Moderator]

Unsure which folder to put this in but thank you for the rec, Vindhya!

[Sai :), Assistant Moderator]

I honestly think it increases our sense of wonder
howeverrr being exposed to same things over and over again does desensitize us to them, which is why a lot of politicians post jokes and memes and such about controversial things they're doing, because they know it'll diminish our sense of shock

[Vindhya (ia)]

Sai :) wrote: "I honestly think it increases our sense of wonder
howeverrr being exposed to same things over and over again does desensitize us to them, which is why a lot of politicians post jokes and memes and ..."

On the question of whether the pursuit of knowledge diminishes our sense of wonder, I strongly disagree with the notion that it inherently increases awe or excitement. While it is true that repeated exposure to phenomena can desensitize us, I contend that the expansion of understanding often transforms the way we perceive the world and sometimes diminishes the raw, childlike sense of wonder we initially felt. Knowledge does not automatically intensify awe; instead, it can reduce the thrill of novelty as patterns, explanations, and causes become familiar.

Take personal experience as an example. I was once an avid listener of K-pop, spending hours exploring songs with those colour coded lyrics, concepts, and performances on m-net. At the time, every comeback and music video felt magical, innovative, and full of surprise. Today, I rarely revisit k-pop as whole. The newer content does not excite me in the same way, and my sense of wonder for the genre has faded. Knowledge, understanding trends, production techniques, and recurring themes, has made the music predictable, less spontaneous, and less awe-inspiring. The excitement comes now only in nostalgia, not in the discovery of new work.

History and the arts provide further examples. Many classical artists and writers were initially celebrated for revolutionary ideas, colors, or forms that stunned audiences. Leonardo da Vinci’s inventions and paintings once inspired amazement, but learning the scientific principles behind them or seeing countless reproductions can reduce the visceral impact. Similarly, the more one studies literature, the more one notices the mechanics and techniques, which, while intellectually rewarding, often diminishes the sense of raw, untamed wonder experienced by first-time readers. Knowledge clarifies, explains, and unpacks the mystery, inevitably changing our emotional response.

The claim that exposure to repeated phenomena merely desensitizes us, as seen in politicians normalizing controversial topics, does not account for the deeper way understanding alters perception. Desensitization is only part of the picture. The pursuit of knowledge itself, through education, research, and analysis, can subtly dismantle the awe we felt for the unknown. Where wonder once came from mystery and surprise, understanding replaces it with explanation and rationality. The world may seem less magical because we can now anticipate outcomes, recognize patterns, or comprehend complex systems.

Furthermore, wonder and curiosity are not always enhanced by knowledge; they are often conditioned by novelty. When we encounter something new without understanding it, our minds are captivated. Once that same phenomenon is dissected, classified, or repeated, the emotional intensity fades, and knowledge can feel like a substitute for awe rather than a reinforcement. Artists, musicians, and performers can maintain technical brilliance, but the spell of first discovery is hard to recapture once familiarity sets in.

Wonder, once experienced, cannot fully survive the lens of comprehension.