Knowledge: who needs it?

Who needs knowledge? Everyone. And not just to because society says so. Knowledge is needed in all areas of life, regardless of your career..

Consider what Aristotle said over two thousand years ago in his book Nicomachean Ethics. When he discusses intellectual virtues, he points out different ways to think about knowledge and intellect:

• Scientific knowledge: a capacity to demonstrate from first (and later) principles

• Art: concerned with making

• Practical wisdom: concerned with doing, and things about which it is possible to deliberate

Think of the these types of knowledge as 'know-what' and 'know-how'.

'Know-what' here means scientific knowledge, which is built upon premises and starting points. “'Know-how' is applicable to art and practical wisdom. Art, because it involves creating a concrete result - whether it's architecture or breadmaking. Practical wisdom, because “practical wisdom must be a reasoned and true state of capacity to act with regard to human goods” (Aristotle). Unlike scientific knowledge, both concepts under 'know-how' are concerned with capability of action, not just merely knowing facts. Similarly, art and practical wisdom can't happen without understanding facts!

However, Aristotle made a fourth distinction: intuitive reasoning. Aristotle meant intuition in the normal sense of the word, where there is a feeling of correctness. At first, intuition seems important to start building knowledge of anything from astronomy to riding a bike. But intuition cannot actually be a starting point, as intuitions are not guaranteed to have a factual basis. By nature of being a feeling, it has no reasons to provide. Through further discussion, Aristotle concludes that because of its limitations and lack of reasons altogether, intuitive reasoning is incompatible with practical wisdom.

The better you apply these types of knowledge, the better you will be at creating value. They provide the ability to know what you want and how to get there. Knowledge analysis is figuring out how to create or increase value even more effectively than you already are.

In other words, it's not quite true that everyone needs knowledge. Only those who seek excellence need knowledge.

#knowledge #basics