1.+Ways+of+Knowing

How do we acquire knowledge and understanding?

What are the sources of knowing? (Choose 3)

We can acquire knowledge in different ways such as from family while you are growing up or from other people such as friends, teachers, written publications and experience. But to allow you to gather more information about life from experience, you need prior knowledge, such as the information you get from family, teachers and possibly friends. Written publications and friends tell us facts that are maybe not considered as useful, but nonetheless it is a piece of knowledge that we are receiving and when we are gathering facts and information we are gaining a part of someone else’s knowledge too. Understanding comes from knowledge and possibly experience. When we understand something, we should be able to use a piece of information or facts and apply it to a situation or evaluate its concepts and uses. For example, I have a good understanding of the uses of a computer keyboard whereas my grandmother doesn’t. Understanding means that we should be able to look at a situation or problem and try to find every aspect or point of view possible to solve it and this is how we acquire the skill to better understand things in life. Some of the sources of knowing are logic, observations and historical records. From knowing certain facts by using logical deduction, we are able to better understand an object or a situation. For example, pouring liquid out of a glass would fall down-wards: due to gravity, and this is known through observations too. It is repeatable and we are able to predict the same result over and over again, using logical deduction. Historical records are facts on paper. And knowing is using facts for a better understanding of a situation or object. Historical records also give us knowledge and understanding on how things were in the past and how they have affect things now in the present life.