A state where an individual is not only ignorant of the truth but is also ignorant of their own ignorance, they believe they know when they do not.
Compound ignorance is worse than simple ignorance. In simple ignorance, a person knows they don’t know and is thus open to learning. In compound ignorance, the individual is convinced they possess true knowledge, making them immune to new information or correction.
In the modern epistemological crisis, compound ignorance is the fuel for tribalism and systemic dysfunction. When we mistake data for wisdom, or narratives for reality, we fall into this trap.
To break compound ignorance, we must return to a monotheistic framework and a spirituo-epistemic source. This requires the humility of purification (tazkiyah) and the use of the seven liberal arts (Trivium) to audit the logic and intent of all information we consume.