Is knowledge the answer?

About three or four years ago, there was an advertisement in a leading magazine by one of the Swiss banks with the heading "Knowledge is the answer". The bank had asked nearly 50 Nobel Laureates why nations prospered and had got the answer - a total of 200 hours deliberation, they said! 

Indeed! Is that sufficient answer? No boundaries indicated, no limits set, no mapping out, no attempt at definition. If a nation wanted to become prosperous or even more prosperous than it already was, what was it that it had to tackle in order to do so? for example, Syria is completely destroyed and wants to make a new beginning. What are we to tell Syria? Lebanon is another example. Too imprecise an answer! 

What then is knowledge? What is the kind of territory that constitutes knowledge. It is possible to indicate the rough boundaries of knowledge - generally considered as one half science and the other half humanities. Science would cover the subjects of physics, chemistry, botany, biology, zoology, astronomy, and even the modern disciplines like geology, paleontology, etc. Humanities would cover subjects like art, painting, sculpture, architecture as also economics, sociology, and such like. 

I was reminded about the story of the successful businessman who was asked by a young admirer as to what was the reason for his success. "You have to jump at the opportunity", the businessman replied. The young man persisted. "But how do I know it is the right opportunity". The businessman smiled a wicked smile. "That's the whole point. You have to keep jumping". 

Well, really, do you have to keep jumping when you are told ‘knowledge’ - or is there a way?