Knowledge
Introduction
Knowledge is a familiarity, awareness, or understanding of someone or something, such as facts, information, descriptions, or skills, which is acquired through experience or education by perceiving, discovering, or learning. It can refer to both the theoretical and practical understanding of a subject. Knowledge can be implicit (as with practical skill or expertise) or explicit (as with the theoretical understanding of a subject); and it can be more or less formal or systematic.
Types of Knowledge
There are several types of knowledge that can be acquired and used in different contexts. These include:
Propositional Knowledge
Propositional knowledge, also known as declarative knowledge or descriptive knowledge, is knowledge about the world that can be expressed in declarative sentences or indicative propositions. This type of knowledge is often considered to be the result of "knowing that" something is the case.
Procedural Knowledge
Procedural knowledge, also known as imperative knowledge, is the knowledge exercised in the performance of a task. It includes knowing how to do something, such as riding a bike or playing a musical instrument. This type of knowledge is often considered to be the result of "knowing how" to do something.
Personal Knowledge
Personal knowledge, also known as experiential knowledge, is the knowledge that is based on personal experience and individual personal insights. This type of knowledge is often considered to be the result of "knowing by acquaintance".
Theories of Knowledge
There are numerous theories that attempt to explain what knowledge is and how it is acquired. Some of the most influential theories include:
Classical Theory of Knowledge
The Classical Theory of Knowledge posits that knowledge is justified true belief. This means that in order for a belief to be considered knowledge, it must be both true and justified.
Constructivist Theory of Knowledge
The Constructivist Theory of Knowledge argues that humans construct knowledge and meaning from their experiences. According to this theory, learning is an active, constructive process, and individuals create their own understanding and knowledge of the world through experiencing things and reflecting on those experiences.
Empiricism
Empiricism is a theory of knowledge that asserts that knowledge comes only or primarily from sensory experience. It emphasizes the role of experience and evidence, especially sensory perception, in the formation of ideas, over the notion of innate ideas or traditions.
Rationalism
Rationalism is a theory of knowledge that asserts that certain knowledge can be gained independently of sense experience. It emphasizes the role of reason and logic in the acquisition of knowledge.
Knowledge Acquisition
Knowledge acquisition involves complex cognitive processes: perception, learning, communication, association and reasoning. The term is often used to refer to a rationalistic process of perception, i.e., the process of acquiring, interpreting, selecting, and organizing sensory information.
Learning
Learning is the process of acquiring new understanding, knowledge, behaviors, skills, values, attitudes, and preferences. The ability to learn is possessed by humans, animals, and some machines; there is also evidence for some kind of learning in certain plants.
Experience
Experience refers to the nature of the events someone or something has undergone. Experience is what is happening to us all the time - as we long to learn from our experiences, they remain potentially harmful, often unrealized, sources of personal growth and knowledge.
Education
Education is the process of facilitating learning, or the acquisition of knowledge, skills, values, beliefs, and habits. Educational methods include teaching, training, storytelling, discussion and directed research.
Knowledge Management
Knowledge Management is the process of creating, sharing, using and managing the knowledge and information of an organization. It refers to a multidisciplinary approach to achieving organizational objectives by making the best use of knowledge.