Introduction

We live in an era of information overload. We are constantly bombarded with data, and we consume it in a frenzied fashion. We read articles and click on links that seem to confirm our beliefs, but what if we don't actually understand what we're reading? What if we think we know something when really all that's happening is that the words on the screen are confirming what we already believe?

Knowing is not the same as understanding.

Knowing and understanding are two very different things. Knowing is the raw data; it's the facts, figures and details you accumulate throughout your life. Understanding is what happens when you interpret that information and put it in context.

The difference between knowing your name (your job title, etc.) and understanding your name (what people associate with a particular word) may seem obvious to most people who have an education system where they're taught how to read, write and speak. But even if we don't feel like our educational system has served us well by teaching us how to understand language, there are countless examples of "knowing" vs "understanding" scattered across daily life:

• Knowing how many people live in New York City vs understanding why so many people live there

• Knowing what clouds look like vs understanding what clouds mean for weather patterns

We know so many things that we do not understand.

To the mind's eye, the world is a rich tapestry of experiences and knowledge. We are each able to see only a tiny patch of that vast fabric, but it feels as if we understand all of it because we know so many things that we do not understand.

We can know something and still not understand it because we have not yet learned how to interpret that knowledge. The best example I can think of this is reading Chinese characters: even though you may be able to read them perfectly well (you know the meaning), you don't really understand them (you haven't yet learned how).

The answer to this lies in the difference between raw knowledge and refined knowledge.

Raw knowledge is information that is gathered from a source and then presented to the reader. Refined knowledge, on the other hand, is information that has been interpreted and organized by humans, who have a much more powerful ability than raw data to connect dots in ways that make sense for them.

Refined knowledge can be manipulated by humans to fit human needs or agendas. While this might seem like a negative aspect of refined knowledge at first glance, it also makes it possible for us to use our biases—in this case towards justice—to help us think about how we want our society to function.

Refined knowledge has been gathered, interpreted and organized by humans instead of computers.

• Knowledge is a form of power.

• Knowledge is not always a good thing.

What is knowledge? Knowledge can be defined as information, understanding, or familiarity gained through experience or education; the theoretical or practical understanding of a subject. There are many different types of knowledge: common sense, empirical knowledge and scientific knowledge among others. How do you know if someone has this type of knowledge? Think about it this way: what do they know? What have they learned through experience or education? How can you tell if someone has knowledge? In order to determine whether someone knows something or not we must first identify what constitutes as 'knowledge' in your own mind (this may differ from person to person).

Since humans determine what is important, refined knowledge can be easily manipulated by humans to fit human needs or agendas.

• This is a luxury tone

• You may use it for your own purposes.

• You may use it to make money.

You can know something and still not understand it.

You can know something and still not understand it.

You can have knowledge, but not know how to apply it.

You can have knowledge, but not know why that thing is important.

Or you may be able to use such information as a tool for your own ends, but never really understand what it means at its core level of being or existence.

Conclusion

I hope this article has helped you to understand the difference between knowing and understanding. Knowing is not the same as understanding, and we can only truly understand something when it is refined knowledge. The answer lies in how we organize raw information into a form that is easier for us humans to digest—the best way to do this is by using stories that reflect our experiences as well.