To understand ourselves and what surrounds us , to be able to see and interpret reality, to know why things happen, to elaborate strategies that allow us to solve problems…

Knowledge is something that human beings have sought since the beginning of time. However, the search for information that allows us to understand the world and make inferences from that data has allowed different types of knowledge to be generated . In this article we present some of the best known types.

The concept of ‘knowledge’

Knowledge is understood as the set of interrelated information referring to one or several subjects whose origin is found in the experience, the reflection, the sensations and the reflection on them. It allows us to interpret the world and use that interpretation to respond to situations and stimuli.

Although we often refer to scientific knowledge as knowledge, there are different forms and types of knowledge based on where such knowledge comes from, how it relates to experience and how it is applied.

Types of knowledge

There are many ways to classify the different types of knowledge that exist, including the type of information that is known or the way in which the information is acquired or processed. Some of the main ones are the following, although several of them may overlap in some respects.

1. Philosophical knowledge

In this case , the starting point is introspection and reflection on reality and the circumstances that surround us and the world, sometimes based on the experience given by direct observations of natural or social phenomena. Thus, we start from observation and reflection without going as far as experimentation, and from this knowledge various methodologies and techniques emerge that allow speculation to become scientific knowledge over time.

There are perspectives according to which philosophical knowledge should be a form of knowledge production based solely on thought itself, regardless of the source from which the information dealt with arises, while in others, it should focus on the topics dealt with directly by science (applied or not) or by history. Although this debate is not closed, there is no doubt that historically philosophical knowledge has been independent of scientific knowledge , given, among other things, that its existence dates back to times well before the Scientific Revolution.

2. Empirical knowledge

The empirical is one of the types of knowledge based on the directly observable. Empirical knowledge is considered to be that which is learned in the environment through personal experience . It is based on observation without considering the use of a method to investigate the phenomena or their level of generalisation.

However, it should be pointed out that pure empirical knowledge does not exist, since whenever we look at the environment we are applying a series of beliefs, categories of thought and theories or pseudo-theories to what we perceive, in order to be able to interpret it by reaching significant conclusions.

3. Scientific knowledge

Similar to empirical knowledge in the sense that it starts from the observation of reality and is based on demonstrable phenomena, on this occasion we are faced with one of the types of knowledge in which a critical analysis of reality is carried out on the basis of verification (experimental or not) in order to be able to draw valid conclusions. Scientific knowledge allows the criticism and modification of its conclusions and basic premises.

On the other hand, scientific knowledge is closely linked to the historical development of human thought; it is something that did not exist several centuries ago, because science did not exist.

4. Intuitive knowledge

Intuitive knowledge is a type of knowledge in which the relationship between phenomena or information is carried out through a subconscious process, without there being sufficient objective information at an observable level to elaborate such knowledge and without a direct verification of its veracity being necessary. It is linked to experience and the association of ideas and sensations.

For example, we can assume that someone is angry because they have arched eyebrows and tense facial muscles or because their behavior is colder than usual, and we can also associate a person’s manner of speaking with the concept “sweet”.

5. Religious or revealed knowledge

It is a type of knowledge derived from people’s faith and beliefs . The data reflected and considered true by this type of knowledge cannot be demonstrated or falsified from the observable, being inferred from the interiorization of several religious dogmas.

While it can be critical of itself and develop in different ways, this type of knowledge tends to be transmitted without much effort to vary its axioms.

6. Declaratory knowledge

By declarative knowledge we mean that in which we are capable of knowing theoretical information about things, being fully aware of such knowledge and establishing it in the form of an idea or proposition. Such ideas may or may not be verified later . It allows abstraction and reflection on the information, as well as its elaboration.

7. Procedural knowledge

This type of knowledge, sometimes called tacit knowledge, is applied to the management of new problems in a personal or professional environment in which a lot of experience and fluency has been acquired. Moreover, what is learned cannot be expressed verbally, but has to do with movements made in a certain time and space.

It refers to the type of knowledge that allows us to be able to know how to do something , even though at a conceptual level we may not possess any type of knowledge about what we are doing. For example, we can know how to ride a bicycle or drive in spite of not knowing the principles that govern such behaviours. This is, therefore, a type of knowledge that goes beyond words.

8. Direct knowledge

It is based on direct experimentation with the object of knowledge, obtaining first-hand information about that object. Therefore, it does not depend on other people’s interpretation.

9. Indirect or vicarious knowledge

In indirect knowledge we learn about something from other information without experimenting with the object of study directly. For example, when we study a textbook we are obtaining indirect knowledge about the subject in question.

10. Logical knowledge

This type of knowledge is based on the derivation of conclusions consistent with the premises on which it is based. It is information that follows the rules of deductive reasoning and whose process can be summarized through syllogisms. For example: if it is raining, the ground will be wet; it has rained, so the ground has been wet.

11. Mathematical knowledge

This is another type of knowledge that is more related to logic, but it is not exactly like the previous one. In this case, the content of the propositions with which we work to extract information is based exclusively on numbers and mathematical operations. Therefore, it does not directly refer to material elements, but to relationships between numbers, something that has to do with a more abstract type of reasoning.

12. Systems knowledge

This type of knowledge refers to the ability to generate systems from individual elements that can be combined with each other. It is a technical field related to mathematics and usually used in programming and trades such as architecture or sociology.

13. Private knowledge

It is based on personal experiences of an autobiographical nature, and in itself is not available to a large group of people.

14. Public knowledge

It is part of popular culture and its contents have been disseminated through many groups and layers of society.

Other types of knowledge

There are other ways of classifying knowledge that can vary greatly in terms of specificity or the element in question that is known, that is, according to its subject matter. For example, we can find the existence of intrapersonal knowledge (regarding oneself), interpersonal, artistic, political, technical or medical knowledge among many others.

Bibliographic references:

  • Beuchot, Mauritius (2003). Analogical and threshold hermeneutics. Salamanca, San Esteban, 2003.
  • Moulines Castellví, C. Ulises (1973). The structure of the sensitive world. Phenomenalist systems. Barcelona. Ariel.
  • Zubiri, X. (1982). Intelligence and Logos. Madrid. Alianza Editorial.