The Definition of Theory of Knowledge - Essay Example

Theory of Knowledge The definition of knowledge is not same for everyone. Some might get knowledge from books but for some it lies in the nature. Some try to acquire it from technology using computers and machines while some acquire it from inside their own selves. It depends on how one perceives something. As the source and method of acquiring the knowledge is different, similarly the ways of expressing the knowledge are different. Some express their knowledge using numbers or symbols while others express it through music, paining, constructing, and designing. Every individual has his own style of expressing his knowledge, which no one can snatch from him (Botha, pp. 38-110). Knowledge is of two types. One is explicit knowledge, which one can express through words, numbers, data, scientific formulae, manuals, universal principles, laws, and many more. One can easily transfer this knowledge to others through systematic and sometimes unsystematic ways. This kind of knowledge is usually dominant in western part of world; however, with the Japanese point of view this is just a tip of an iceberg. Which means knowledge is tacit and one cannot easily understand or express it (Lamberts & Shanks, pp. 171-182). Tacit knowledge is very personal and it is very hard to express. One cannot share it easily with others unless one uses some special methods of expressing it. Tacit knowledge consists of “subjective insights, intuitions, and hunches” (David & Theresa, pp. 1435-1451). This knowledge has its roots in an individual’s actions and experiences. It also has strong roots in individual’s ideals, emotions, and values. Categories are also there in tacit knowledge; one is technical dimension, which refers to informal and ambiguous skills, which the individuals have. For example, a great chef has earned a lot of money with his expertise on fingertips. Some architects make very memorable and historical buildings, some musicians compose tunes that stay in our hearts forever. Some painters make phenomenal paintings and some make great monuments. However, they find it difficult to articulate scientific or technical principles behind their knowhow of a certain talent. This is because of extremely subjective and personal instincts, sixth sense, and inspirations formed because of bodily experiences. They are able to do phenomenal jobs but they cannot tell the reason behind this and cannot express them in words, symbols, data, or any kind of formulae (David & Theresa, pp. 1435-1451). This is something that comes from within them; this is might because of some experience of unconscious or something born with them. One cannot deny that those who are not born with such kind of talent cannot do these jobs at all. They can also learn these techniques and express them in the same way but they are conscious of how they have learned to do all this. However, the matter here is not about learning but expressing, both kinds of people do not express their knowledge in words, symbols, data, formulae, or anything else. Only the learned ones can tell the way of learning. Another dimension of tacit knowledge is cognitive dimension. It deals with “beliefs perceptions, values, emotions, ideals, and mental models that are so embedded in one that one takes them for granted” (Tirosh, pp. 44-89) However, they are not very easy to express but they constitute the way we perceive this world. Before expression, comes perception because expression depends on perception, this is the reason why everyone has different kind knowledge and different way of expressing (Tirosh, pp. 44-89). One expresses through music, other through painting yet another through teaching. In teaching knowledge is expressed through numbers and symbols, some people want to teach while some do it for the sake of earning, it depends in their experience. In either of the case, they are expressing their knowledge using word and transferring it to others, which is a feature of explicit knowledge. Scientists, doctors and businesspersons do the same; they express their knowledge through words, numbers etc. Everyone describes the experiences and knowledge that they have, however that does not make the existence of words necessary (Ellis, Leowen, & Elder, pp. 219-235). Because, everything we have inside has does not depend on words to express it. We do have the potential of creating words for what we want to express and it somehow puts a label on it and make it real. For example, the feeling of not feeling good and not liking anything was given the name of “sadness”. Similarly, the feeling of being glad and joyful has been given the name of “happiness”. Now, one has the knowledge of this, that if someone is not feeling good, he is “sad” and that if someone is feeling very good he is “happy”. This kind of knowledge one can express through words. However, the non-verbal methods describe it in a more sophisticated manner such as music and painting. However, after the expression of a sad music or a happy music it depends on the perception of other who listens to it. Moreover, the perception depends on experience and knowledge. The music of flute and other musical instruments depend on the mood of person who listen to it and this mood depends on experience, which is derived from knowledge. The subjects that we study such as science, physics, mathematics, English etc. were all initially the experiences of people. The experience of motion, the structure of body, the facts about blood, the information about skies, the layers of earth, inventions of vehicles, mobile phones etc initially people thought about them in the form of pictures in the minds. Gradually people created terminologies for them and invented further facts. Had people not created any terminologies for them, it would be difficult for the common people to communicate about them. Both kinds of expression that is with words and without words has equal importance, it depends on the way of perception and expression that determines its value in the eyes of an individual. Musicians express their knowledge with their melody; artists like painters fall into the depth of nature and come up with some paintings that have meanings, which not everyone can understand. Only the ones who have love for such kind of talent will understand this because somehow they have same knowledge as well. Designers have sense and knowledge of designing; they express their knowledge by making beautiful buildings, which manifest history. The great example of this manifestation is “Taj Mahel” which was expressed by number of artists who worked on it. “Taj Mahel” is considered as an expression of love but actually, it is the knowledge of those who worked on it. Similarly, music is in many forms; an expression of knowledge of those who like to express what is inside them with rhythm or melody. It is not might knowledge for everyone but it is priceless knowledge for the ones who understand its meaning. It is pointless to decide which the best method is because what is knowledge to one might not be even significant pursuing for another. A prophet might find the pains to land on Mars worthless and would rather look within to find the knowledge of one. He might desire to know the spiritual realities of self which scientists might consider useless. There is process of how people express their knowledge in the ways other than words. For example, when a singer has not articulated her music, musical sounds are forming in the area of her consciousness and she is listening with her inner ears. The more clearly she hears the inner sound, the closer she is with un-struck sound. Here her sense of reasoning is least. When she expresses that un-struck she is actually relying on her senses and physical organs to bring out the sound for all to listen and appreciate which is somehow similar to science; supposed to be established and simulated by all. She is now dealing with her own physical sound, yet using reason largely. Concurrently, the singer also uses the instruments outside her body to further polish up her own vocal chords so that her articulation is pleasant (Reber, pp. 56-90). Explicit knowledge is easy to understand and express while implicit is hard to understand and express. The meaning of explicit one cannot be ambiguous because one perceives it how it is written. One cannot say that two plus two is five because it is clear from the numbers that the addition of two with two will equal four. On the other hand, for example if one sees a painting one cannot identify the reason behind this picture or the purpose of this picture unless the painter tells the actual reason and purpose. Similarly, scientific laws and theories are fixed; they have contingencies that if something occurs, its consequence will be this. However, if a music composer has composed music he cannot tell the reason behind this composition and the consequence of this composition. Both kinds of knowledge is used by people in some or other way but there is less certainty of correct perception in the knowledge that is not expresses by words. Works Cited Botha, Anthon P. Knowledge: Living and Working with It. Juta and Company Ltd, 2008. David, Shanks and Johnstone Theresa. “Evaluating the relationship Between Explicit and Implicit Knowledge in a Sequential Reaction Time Task.” Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition. (1999): 1435-1451. Ellis, Rod, Shawn Leowen and Catherine Elder. Implicit and Explicit Knowledge in Second Language Learning, Testing and Teaching. Multilingual Matters, 2009. Lamberts, Koen and David R. Shanks. Knowledge, Concepts and Categories. MIT Press, 1997. Reber, Arthur S. “Implicit learning and tacit knowledge.” Journal of Experimental Psychology. (1989): 219-235. Tirosh, Dina. Implicit and Explicit Knowledge: An Educational Approach. Ablex Pub. Corp, 1994. Read More