Knowing for the sake of knowing is called intellect. lol
There is a saying that “knowledge without application is useless” and that may be true for certain things, for instance, knowing that you are overweight and at risk of health problems but continuing to eat like a horse and not exercise. However, knowledge has nothing to do with human folly, plenty of highly intelligent alcoholics and drug addicts out there. It is still better to know the risks than to not know, even if ones choices are not reflective of their knowledge.
What about stored knowledge that was once applicable but no longer?
I am not pursuing certain longtime interests and certain vocations any more but doesn’t mean my knowledge is wasted, I can still share my knowledge/expertise with others.
If knowledge without application was truly useless then I guess knowing history, science or just about anything would be considered useless since you have never actually fired a canon, examined a bacteria under a microscope or put a radio collar on an Arctic Wolf.
Why bother knowing anything if you can’t actually find a practicing outlet for said knowledge?
That line of thinking is true ignorance! lol