Gaining KnowledgeTheory of Knowledge:

About the Topic...• Knowledge is not a physical thing that is lying around waiting

for us to pick up

• Knowledge is something that is created by us both personally and socially throughout our entire lives.

• Types of knowledge (2):

• Personal knowledge

• Shared knowledge

• Ways of gaining knowledge (3):

• Skill (doing)

• Experiencing (reflection)

• Knowledge Claims (hearing and accepting)

Types of Knowledge

•Personal Knowledge - Knowledge of which some part will always remain personal.

•Shared Knowledge - Knowledge that is shared and accepted between people.

Example of Personal Knowledge

Example of Shared Knowledge

Charmaine knows that she likes to

take “selfies.”

The Seattle Seahawks are

the current NFL “Super Bowl” Champions

Ways of Gaining Knowledge

•Skill (Doing) - Having knowledge of something because you know how to do it. (Overlaps with experience).

•Experience (Reflection) - Having knowledge from sensations of experiencing an event.

•Knowledge Claims (hearing and accepting)

Example of Skill

Example of Experience

Example of Claim

I know basketball because I

know how to play

basketball.

I know Beyonce is a

musician because I’ve been to one

of her concerts.

I know that God exists because the Pope claims it

and I believe his

claim.

Summary• Knowledge isn’t concrete, it is created

by by each of us personally and socially

• Two Types of Knowledge:

• Personal

• Shared

• Three Ways to Gain Knowledge:

• Skill

• Experience

• Claimsa