forum for week of 14 Nov: when we don't want knowledge

When I ride my bicycle, I say I know how to ride my bicycle. When asked to prove that I have this knowledge, I simply demonstrate by riding around the questioner. However, when pressed for an explanation to show that I know how it is that I accomplish going from a to b without capsizing, I am faced with a problem. Although I can give some explanation, if pressed further, the depth and complexity of how I actually manage the trick makes me realize that I don’t know a damn thing about it with any final certainty – except perhaps one thing. Somewhat paradoxically, it is not thinking about it reflectively, but rather concentrating, or being present-minded in the task at hand that keeps me upright and rolling forward – precisely not knowing: a kind of active forgetting. Only after the act, and upon reflection, can I examine, analyze and then explain how I did it. I then have instrumental, technical knowledge – how I ride. But is it complete, that is real knowledge without proven answers to why I can, (physical laws, how the brain and body work, coordination), or what it is? (transportation, exercise, entertainment, fun, escape, madness, etc.) This forgetting activity can be applied to much of what we do, e.g. swimming, singing songs, skiing.