Two Types of Knowledge

In the Bible in Hosea 4:6 we read that "My people perish for lack of knowledge..."

We know that people perish from lack of goals. But goals achievement requires knowledge.

There are to types of knowledge, explicit and tacit.

Explicit knowledge is the very specific. It may be called book knowledge. Encyclopedias,  dictionaries, and atlases contain explicit knowledge. I remember years ago one of my uncles telling me that he wishes he had the money back he had spent on an encyclopedia. Why did he say that? Because he had gained the tacit knowledge that explicit knowledge by itself would not bring him happiness or success.

Tacit knowledge is not easily transferred. Often it is only gained through experience.

I remember the old story of the machine that was not working. The owner of the machine was desperate as his entire business depended on that machine. A repairman came in. He examined the machine and then turned a certain screw. His bill was for $400. He was asked to itemize his bill. "All you did was turn one screw." The itemization came back. Turning screw $1. Knowing which screw to turn $399.

We need vision. We need goals. We need specialized knowledge. Then we need to gain explicit knowledge.

David Sneed