# Nussbaum warns knowledge alone cannot guarantee ethical behaviour 2026-08-06T22:45:33+00:00 | Technology | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet American philosopher Martha C. Nussbaum argues that knowledge does not ensure good behaviour, while ignorance can invite harmful decisions. Her 2010 book Not for Profit: Why Democracy Needs the Humanities links this danger to the decline of critical thinking, ethical reflection and empathy. The Times of India reports that the quote appears in the book’s chapter “Education for Citizenship”. Nussbaum warns that education focused mainly on economic growth and technical skills may produce capable workers who lack the judgement needed for democratic life. Drawing on Socrates, Adam Smith and Rabindranath Tagore, she says the humanities help people question authority, recognise bias and understand other lives. The argument also applies to artificial intelligence, where technically efficient systems can repeat social biases without historical and ethical scrutiny. ## Coverage - timesofindia.indiatimes.com Tags: Artificial intelligence, education, ethics, humanities, Martha Nussbaum Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/nussbaum-warns-knowledge-alone-cannot-guarantee-ethical-behaviour/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/nussbaum-warns-knowledge-alone-cannot-guarantee-ethical-behaviour/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.