Where does all our knowledge go when we die?  Why do we strive to learn so much?
117293
A basic principle of many beliefs is that the way we lead our lives on earth determines what will become of us in the afterlife. For example, within the Hindu religion, if you have led a good productive life of giving, you will be rewarded with reincarnation into a higher caste. This is incentive to "strive" to learn as much as they can during their present life in order to earn passage into their next life. \n\nMy beliefs? Perhaps they are a bit simpler. Perhaps my explanation will not be so glorified. But I would like to think that after I die, my knowledge lives on........in my kids. I don't think there is a thing I know that I don't pass on to them. Why? well we are three girls that do so love to talk.....incessantly. :) So yeah.....we constantly are passing knowledge to one another. They are my incentive to strive to learn so much. As an adult, but moreso as a parent, you feel a responsibility to find the answers for your children. They don't expect us to know everything and by the time they are teenagers they actually regress into believing we know nothing. But we feel responsible to be a resource to them regardless. After my death, I fully expect that I will keep living within my kids. Oh sure......my body will be rotting away somewhere or my ashes spread out on the dashboard of a boat somewhere in the carribean. And no, I don't expect my "soul" will be floating from one daughter to the next being their guardian angel. But all that I've taught them......all that we've shared......they will be living it. They will keep me alive by sharing what they learned from me with others. They too will then strive to learn more to share with their children. \n\nI would love to think that our knowledge forms a ball of energy that feeds the world........but poppycock. We die. We're dead. The knowledge we have must live on thru those we have touched. so lesson learned here? If you want to live forever.......touch someone's life today.
497295
First off... you study too much. The knowledge you seek is inherently in yourself.\n\nPeople are themselves even before that learn to read and study. And people who never learn to read, can still be good people and live righteous lives.\n\nI have studied alot, and used what i learned to form my own pinions, and now i am certain enough of myself that i can draw my answers from myself without further study.\n\n Life is its own reward, don't waste it in books, live it with your heart.
1084252
I noticed people become more believing when they get older...I think for a lot of people the thought that when you die, you cease to exist is difficult to comprehend, so there must be a God overseeing the afterlife...
78927
So that each individual does not have to relearn all the knowledge of humanity in their own lifetime, but rather we may stand on the shoulders of geniuses and accomplish things that we could not alone. We acheive for them, we acheive for ourselves, and we acheive for our children, our future. We go to school so that we may know, not believe, but know that we are not alone.\n\nThat being said, doesn't school bite sometimes?\n\nGood Luck!
747543
Hmm.. well try this.. "NOTHING"\n\nit kind of fits in doesn't it? if you lose nothing.. you cannot get rid of anything (which is again nothing)..\n\nhowz my idea?\n\nor maybe your "KNOWLEDGE" by losing your knowledge.. (teaching some1 else).. you dont get rid of it.. but rather get it increased!.
339504
Because human beings have the innate quest for higher learning/knowledge. For as long as the human brain is in good working condition, there will always be HOWs, WHYs, WHATs, WHEREs, WHENs and so many other questions that need to be answered!
10976
There's an infinite amount. Why? Because, as things are learned, there is expansion in perceptions & knowledge which leads to more questioning based on your newfound information...
588739
Brains don't have a limited amount of storage space like a computer does.  Learning involves making new connections between neurons, and ideas.  It is estimated that only 10% of our brains are used.  You have plenty of brain space left.\n\nAs for the removal of data... it's probably not "removed" it's just stored somewhere where you can't find it...
521454
We learn about our past to know who we are, Where do we come from and Why we are the way we are. The knowledge of the past lets us know the roots of our civilisation, the basic principles that guide our lives. The knowledge of past makes us aware of the mistakes our ancestors did and gives us an opportunity to avoid doing the same again. In order to plan ahead one must have the knowledge of the past, one must know what forms the basis of great progress, how great deeds were done, who did them and why did they do so. History makes us remember the sacrifices made by those who are no longer with us, it makes us appreciate the value of life and freedom. The knowledge of the past is like a guide, it helps us to rationalise things, judge between good and bad and to a certain extent it forms the basis of our faith and relegion.\n\nGeorge Santayana, the famous Spanish Historian once said about History :" Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.", to highlight the callousness of early 20th century governments about lessons from the past, Friedrich Hegel, a famous German Historian once said "What history and experience teach us is this: that people and government never have learned anything from history or acted on principles deduced from it."
348935
You'll find out when you're 50, that you finally know everything you thought you knew when you were 20.\nBUT!!! the real advantage lies in the fact that learning is a willful act. You can't learn something if you think you already know it. If you're learning, it means that you have maintained an open mind, and continued to expand your horizones, and not stunted your growth.
452340
Observe\nHypothesize\nCheck\nRevise Hypothesis\nRepeat\n\nThat is how we created all the rest of our knowledge, it is how we could re-create it if all other knowledge were lost
835545
We struggle as conscious beings to grow and learn and become enlightened. We study to grow closer to truth and lucidity.  To succumb to weakness, whether in our studies or in any other aspect of our lives, is to fall back into the darkness of savagery. Each generation has a responsibility to further the collective awareness and conscience of all mankind.
55696
the most valuable possessions i have now is the cumulative knowledge that i've acquired about my self and others.  if knowing such damns me for eternity, then so be it!  there is oft'times a price for all knowledge.
1117022
Are you seriously expecting that there are people here in Yahoo Answers (or here on Planet Earth for that matter) who KNOW what happens after death? No one knows what happens after you die. People who pretend to know are either charlatans or fools.
470592
Interesting question with interesting circumstances.\n\nMy philosophy is that if you stop being curious and stop trying to learn and experinece new things, you stop growing. If you stop growing, you grow up. If you grow up, you get old. If you get old, you die.\n\nMy Grandfather had a similar philosophy and he lived well past the average lifespan for a male born in his decade. He was always active and always appeared "youthful". \n\nBut if you are asking if you need to pursue another degree, that all comes down to your goals. If it will help you get what you want, sure, go ahead.\n\nIf not, then why not look into other interests?
532132
Our cells do not sleep.  The function of cognizance shifts from the real world to the dream world.  Yes, as we expand our knowledge our capacity to learn increases.  It is a false notion that there is only so much "space" in the brain\nWe all function far below or mental capacities.
1122962
I think we all learn things from our experiences.  That's the wisdom that comes with age.  When a soul is old, they have much of that wisdom even when they're young.  You can tell when you talk to them.  If they're aware of who they are, their place in the world- they have a calmness, a centeredness about themselves- it's a look in their eyes, an all-knowing look.\n\nAnyway, that's what I believe.  I believe a really old soul will have all those qualities when they're a child.  I'm striving to get there, and feel I'm close- but I'm over 50 now.  I guess that's at a pretty normal pace- making me what a mediumly aged soul?  I do think there are some who never get there in this lifetime, that makes them young souls.  They're superficial and shallow people- right up until the day they die.\n\nAnyway, I believe we come back to finish what we didn't in this life.  I'll be back a few more times, I'm sure.  Some people will be back a lot more times then that.