11/14/07

There are four kinds of knowledge: memorization, comprehension, understanding, and experience. They are interconnected and interrelated, perhaps interdependent, but they are not identical.

Memorization is knowing the facts, the surface of a concept. It is knowing what is or what happens. It is the simplest form of knowledge and the most common one to test. Memorization is the emotionless connection of semantic information.

Comprehension is deeper. It is knowing how ideas are connected, the mechanism of how an event or state--even a static state or fact of existence--occurs. Comprehension can be communicated through words.

Understanding is deeper yet and more exclusive than one might imagine. It is knowing two steps or more beyond how a state developed--it is knowing why. People can be led to understanding, but it cannot be taught. One must achieve it on one's own through personal analysis of the comprehension available. All understanding implies comprehension, but not all comprehension requires understanding. Understanding may change one's comprehension subtly so that it no longer reflects others' comprehension. Understanding is key to the best enjoyment of life; it is so important that it may supercede all other forms of knowledge.

Experience is akin to understanding, but it offers a different perspective. While experience may not always provide understanding or even comprehension, it does provide some memorization and a kind of emotional knowledge. Experience, like memorization and comprehension, provides input for understanding.