What is Knowledge?

Knowledge is the understanding of a subject or skill that is acquired through experience, education, or training. It is the possession of information and understanding about a specific topic, and it can be either explicit, meaning it is clearly stated and can be easily communicated, or implicit, meaning it is understood but not necessarily articulated.

Knowledge can be divided into different categories, such as factual knowledge, which is based on observable and verifiable facts, and conceptual knowledge, which is based on abstract ideas and theories. It can also be categorized by the source from which it is acquired, such as personal knowledge, which is based on an individual’s own experiences and observations, or collective knowledge, which is shared and passed on within a group or society.

Acquiring knowledge is an ongoing process that involves learning, exploring, and questioning. It can be facilitated through various forms of education, such as formal schooling, informal learning experiences, and self-directed learning. Knowledge is often considered to be a key component of personal and societal development and progress, and it is valued in many cultures as a source of power and influence.

The purpose of knowledge is to:

• To better our lives by learning new ideas and putting them into practice.
• Help us make better decisions in life by better understanding it.
• To improve our performance at work and in life by learning more about things we enjoy doing.
• To assist us in doing good for others by sharing what we have learned through our experiences.

The first step in acquiring knowledge is being aware of a problem or condition. This awareness frequently leads to questions that demand answers, requiring people to obtain material from textbooks, teachers, or other sources of information and then analyze it to decide its usefulness in solving their problem; this is known as the knowledge gap model of decision-making.