Summary of Essay, “Knowledge And Understanding”

Huxley makes a distinction between knowledge and understanding in a philosophical

way. According to him, knowledge develops when we apply our new experiences into
realm of concepts of our old experiences and states, “I don’t invent my thoughts; I
just find them.”.
The interactive nature of experience which strikes with our already acquired
experiences triggers knowledge and enhances our vision and concepts. So knowledge
is acquired in terms of concepts and is passed through symbols and words.
Understanding is contrasted with knowledge in that it never comes in concepts it
cannot be passed on to the other people because it is caused by immediate
experience; however, understanding later develops into knowledge. The two are
different from each other. Understanding is never inherited or learnt by hard work. It
is acquired automatically while knowledge is based on our past experiences. It is
mistake to think that knowledge is a part of understanding or the two are
interchangeable. Knowledge may be correct or incorrect or mere meaningless.
Knowledge is as different from understanding as the doctor’s prescription for
penicillin is different from penicillin.
If knowledge based on mere metaphysical doctrines, and its metaphysical believers
seriously act upon it and modify their behaviors accordingly, this false knowledge
will lead to devastating effects. Metaphysical doctrines are the bases of pseudo-
knowledge because they cannot be verified in our every day, routine and ordinary
experiences. Thus knowledge gained from metaphysics is not the genuine knowledge.
Knowledge is as common as dirt and understanding is as rare as emerald. Over-
valuation of words has always given rise to dogmatic, extremist and fanatic
tendencies and dogmas. So conceptualized knowledge is of great value in pragmatic
life today and it is important for the national survival.
Knowledge in the form of concepts expressed through words is to be highly valued in
our modern age. For the establishment of an advanced society specialized knowledge
has become a necessity. Dissemination of correct knowledge is one of the prime
objectives of education.
Although, it is paradoxical, but language is important as the medium of education and
training; but it can also be dangerous in education. Our human existence is due to
language and we become human beings when we get accumulated conceptualized
knowledge. Knowledge is as common as dirt and understanding is as rare as emerald.
Over valuation of words has always given rise to dogmatic, extremist and fanatic
tendencies and dogmas. So conceptualized knowledge is of great value in pragmatic
life today and it is important for the national survival.