Which is more important, knowledge or a degree?

I have thought about an answer to this question and I have to say my personal view is neither. However, I will try to explain my thoughts.

So in reverse order, a degree…

It is a bit of paper, physically you can forge one with tipex and a photocopier. Its not going to be a good idea, but I have seen it done. What actually does having a real degree actually mean? Well to be brutally honest it means you can remember stuff on a particular day and get the minimum correct to pass.

What does that actually count for? Sweet FA. The day after you know less than you did when you did your degree. Technically you may fail the degree exams the next day so it only has value when you took it, not when you receive it.

What about knowledge?

Well knowlage is usefull but what does it get you? On its own its just a held beleif. What we know is in the past, it will mean nothing else. I once decided to piss off my Math teacher who was always picking us up on not using PI to three figures. So I learned PI to 250 places just waiting for me to get picked on to give PI and wind him up. Once deployed what use was it? He still would ask for three but I got a clap from him, all slow like.

So knowledge is just like a degree, fixed in time and without understanding what use it is? You could pass a degree using multiple choice exams without knowledge but understanding that the answers are in a repeating sequence.

So far you have nothing worth having, except if you add intelligence to know hat they are for and understand how to use the above.

Humans, amongst other animals have developed intelligence and how you can apply both knowledge and understanding because then you can predict the concepts you know forwards onto potential future situations.

So both knowledge and degree are valueless without the intelligence and understanding to wield them in the future.