The 14 Types of Knowledge
1. A Posteriori Knowledge
2. A Priori Knowledge
3. Dispersed Knowledge
4. Domain (Expert) Knowledge
5. Empirical Knowledge
6. Encoded Knowledge
7. Explicit Knowledge
8. Tacit Knowledge
9. Metaknowledge
10. Imperative (Or Procedural) Knowledge
11. Descriptive Knowledge
12. Situated Knowledge
13. Known Unknowns
14. Unknown Unknowns
We store and retrieve knowledge in our minds through cognitive process such as categorizing,
memorizing, contextual recall and logical reasoning.
The 13 Types of Knowledge
1. A Posteriori Knowledge
DESCRIPTION
A Posteriori knowledge is knowledge that we get directly from our own personal experiences.
A Posteriori is latin for ‘that which comes after’. So, when we talk about posteriori knowledge,
we are talking about knowledge that comes after we have had some experiences. It is knowledge
that is a result of our own experiences.
Some types of knowledge are not experiential. Theoretical, abstract and mathematical
knowledge, for example, are derived from abstract or logical reasoning rather than direct
observation.
EXAMPLE
In Philosophy: Philosophers such as the existentialists and humanists tend to believe that
posteriori knowledge is superior to theoretical knowledge. They reject the idea of a God
or higher power because it cannot be observed in the real world. Others may disagree and
argue that they have posteriori experiences of God every day of their lives when they see
the beautiful world God created for them.
, In Education: Many social constructivists theorists believe that posteriori knowledge is
excellent for learning because it helps students develop neural pathways2. A Priori
Knowledge
A Priori knowledge is the opposite of posteriori knowledge. It is knowledge and facts that exist
without the need to experience it. You can come to your conclusions through reason alone.
An example is: 1 + 1 = 2. You can figure this out without actually getting two separate things
and placing them in front of your eyes to count them. You use your A Priori knowledge of
mathematical principles to figure it out!
EXAMPLES
In Philosophy: A Priori means ‘that which comes before’ in latin. It was a term
commonly used by philosophers including Emanuel Kant in Critique of Pure Reason to
come to philosophical conclusions. Many philosophers believe A Priori knowledge is a
superior form of knowledge because it is objective and can be derived independently,
without context or bias.
In Science, Architecture and Engineering: Many great scientific, architectural and
engineering feats have been achieved through A Priori knowledge. For example, the
engineer is able to order a multi-million dollar bridge to be constructed and be confident
that it will withhold the weight of trucks and cars because she has used her A Priori
knowledge of physics to guarantee the bridge will hold its weight.
3. Dispersed or Distributed Knowledge
Dispersed knowledge is knowledge that no single person has the capacity to see in its entirety.
The knowledge is dispersed or spread out among many different people. If we want to bring a
whole lot of knowledge together to achieve something great, we need to get a team of experts on
different topics together to input their knowledge to achieve our goals.
EXAMPLES
In Surgery. Your surgeon may be the expert in fixing hearts, but he could not conduct
the surgery without other specialists and anaesthesiologists who have knowledge and
perspectives that the surgeon is not trained in.
Running a Business. When a small business reaches a certain size, the business owner
realizes they can’t possibly do all the tasks by themselves. They aren’t an expert in
accounting, but the accounts need to be kept. They aren’t an expert in marketing, but
there are marketing experts out there. So, they employ an accountant and a marketer. The
business flourishes, despite no one person in the business having all the diverse skills and
knowledge sets required to run the business on their own.
Google Search. It is said that the google search algorithm which decides who will rank
number 1 in a google search is not known and understood by one single person alone. So
many people have contributed to it over time that different people know different features
of how it works, but no one has all the knowledge about it in their brain alone.
1. A Posteriori Knowledge
2. A Priori Knowledge
3. Dispersed Knowledge
4. Domain (Expert) Knowledge
5. Empirical Knowledge
6. Encoded Knowledge
7. Explicit Knowledge
8. Tacit Knowledge
9. Metaknowledge
10. Imperative (Or Procedural) Knowledge
11. Descriptive Knowledge
12. Situated Knowledge
13. Known Unknowns
14. Unknown Unknowns
We store and retrieve knowledge in our minds through cognitive process such as categorizing,
memorizing, contextual recall and logical reasoning.
The 13 Types of Knowledge
1. A Posteriori Knowledge
DESCRIPTION
A Posteriori knowledge is knowledge that we get directly from our own personal experiences.
A Posteriori is latin for ‘that which comes after’. So, when we talk about posteriori knowledge,
we are talking about knowledge that comes after we have had some experiences. It is knowledge
that is a result of our own experiences.
Some types of knowledge are not experiential. Theoretical, abstract and mathematical
knowledge, for example, are derived from abstract or logical reasoning rather than direct
observation.
EXAMPLE
In Philosophy: Philosophers such as the existentialists and humanists tend to believe that
posteriori knowledge is superior to theoretical knowledge. They reject the idea of a God
or higher power because it cannot be observed in the real world. Others may disagree and
argue that they have posteriori experiences of God every day of their lives when they see
the beautiful world God created for them.
, In Education: Many social constructivists theorists believe that posteriori knowledge is
excellent for learning because it helps students develop neural pathways2. A Priori
Knowledge
A Priori knowledge is the opposite of posteriori knowledge. It is knowledge and facts that exist
without the need to experience it. You can come to your conclusions through reason alone.
An example is: 1 + 1 = 2. You can figure this out without actually getting two separate things
and placing them in front of your eyes to count them. You use your A Priori knowledge of
mathematical principles to figure it out!
EXAMPLES
In Philosophy: A Priori means ‘that which comes before’ in latin. It was a term
commonly used by philosophers including Emanuel Kant in Critique of Pure Reason to
come to philosophical conclusions. Many philosophers believe A Priori knowledge is a
superior form of knowledge because it is objective and can be derived independently,
without context or bias.
In Science, Architecture and Engineering: Many great scientific, architectural and
engineering feats have been achieved through A Priori knowledge. For example, the
engineer is able to order a multi-million dollar bridge to be constructed and be confident
that it will withhold the weight of trucks and cars because she has used her A Priori
knowledge of physics to guarantee the bridge will hold its weight.
3. Dispersed or Distributed Knowledge
Dispersed knowledge is knowledge that no single person has the capacity to see in its entirety.
The knowledge is dispersed or spread out among many different people. If we want to bring a
whole lot of knowledge together to achieve something great, we need to get a team of experts on
different topics together to input their knowledge to achieve our goals.
EXAMPLES
In Surgery. Your surgeon may be the expert in fixing hearts, but he could not conduct
the surgery without other specialists and anaesthesiologists who have knowledge and
perspectives that the surgeon is not trained in.
Running a Business. When a small business reaches a certain size, the business owner
realizes they can’t possibly do all the tasks by themselves. They aren’t an expert in
accounting, but the accounts need to be kept. They aren’t an expert in marketing, but
there are marketing experts out there. So, they employ an accountant and a marketer. The
business flourishes, despite no one person in the business having all the diverse skills and
knowledge sets required to run the business on their own.
Google Search. It is said that the google search algorithm which decides who will rank
number 1 in a google search is not known and understood by one single person alone. So
many people have contributed to it over time that different people know different features
of how it works, but no one has all the knowledge about it in their brain alone.
