Direct knowledge

Direct knowledge integrates a set of knowledge that is objective and has an already defined purpose . To obtain it, you must have a personal experience from which such information is accessed, people must have direct contact. All the senses such as sight, touch and hearing are used.

Compared with other types of knowledge , in this case the participation of the other typologies is not required. Neither is the need to use an external resource , added or an intermediary mentioned , it is enough for the person to make an assessment himself in order to be informed directly.

For its acquisition, the person must always be in contact with the environment and with the activities that take place there. The human being can live experiences of any kind, during its realization the five senses that are fundamental to achieve this learning are used.

What is direct knowledge?

It is also called objective knowledge , it is defined as a type of knowledge, which is characterized by obtaining information through personal contact with what you want to know. People will need to physically introduce themselves to use their senses and have a better understanding.

Sometimes this knowledge has its origin in a judgment that is developed after articulating various personal experiences . In philosophy it is questioned whether this knowledge must be necessary to have a full understanding of the truth.

This knowledge plays an important role in scientific processes, because an objective position is maintained in search of a verifiable truth. In addition, importance is given to the closest approach to that for which an explanation will be sought. Most scientific laws work this way, because they can be supported by evidence.

It is important to note that this type of knowledge is open to the possibility of making judgments and when in doubt. Objectivity is not always going to try to maintain neutrality , this term applies to the process of obtaining information. Understanding it in another way, this is a knowledge that takes into account any reference that is reliable, and that allows to know a reality in the long term.

The main characteristic of direct knowledge is the obtaining of information through direct contemplation, practice, experimentation or even demonstration; all this in conjunction with logical reasoning. Taking into account this characteristic, two types of direct knowledge must be distinguished, which are sensory and intellectual .

It would not be until the appearance of Kant when one begins to study sensory knowledge. According to their statements, this is knowledge that has its origin in experimentation , which allows obtaining knowledge related to time and space. In addition, he opposed the possibility that direct knowledge is only intellectual, because the human mind does not have the ability to understand without using its senses.

Characteristics 

Direct knowledge can only accumulate knowledge when it is certain of its existence. There is evidence of having seen or reproduced certain actions, having experienced certain situations that are real. All these will be conclusive facts that can be accepted by consensus.

As it is also called objective knowledge, it is clear that evidence will always be sought . You can use references such as books, but you can also take the opinions of third parties as reliable sources. Debates or discussions can be generated, which allow access and increase the amount of knowledge.

To increase the knowledge that one has, personal experiences turn out to be essential. Any intervention that allows validating a theory or putting into practice something that has not yet been proven, are all resources that in the long term will achieve ideas and opinions based on the facts.

Beliefs or feelings are not included in this variety of knowledge because they are subjective . Here are other features that help to understand what direct knowledge looks like:

• You must have immediate and close access to a specific reality. In order to obtain this knowledge, one must be connected with the environment and the objects that will be the sources of information.
• It is an independent, external knowledge that depends on the perception of people.
• There is a rejection of personal judgment, only those human experiences that allowed access to reliable data are valid.
• Evidence is collected which is based on a practice there was in an experiment. In the scientific field it is related to the empirical experience that depends on the observation of facts and phenomena. In this way, theories can be developed that will be in a continuous process of analysis.
• This is knowledge that moves away from any subjective process. The acts that try to judge information by establishing theoretical positions are all conceptual ideas that will not conform to the facts as such.
• The possibility of having a doubt is allowed. This is because this is the reason that would make it possible to question the evidence and therefore the process of seeking answers begins.
• It is knowledge that can be shared, in turn it works in different contexts. For example, there are knowledge that can be applied in the laws of physics or mathematics. This is because they work in the same way.
• It has a scientific vision, since it is an acceptable, true and exact knowledge.

7 practical examples

Below are a series of practical examples that will help to better understand what direct knowledge consists of. These exemplify in a better way its application in different fields and also describe its origin and purpose.

1 Physical characteristics of objects

This is a good example because it is a verifiable factor , when observing the physical characteristics of the objects that surround us we can show which reality. If we are looking at an object that has a certain texture, we proceed to touch it directly, we can have an exact reference which will be recorded in memory.

2 Scientific experiments

Most scientific experiments fit the classification of direct knowledge. In addition to applying a scientific methodology based on theories and techniques already verified, new information can be added with one’s own experience.

Thus, it has been possible to know that certain elements such as water react to heat at a particular temperature. Returning to this example, when it reaches 100 ªC it will boil, the same result will always be experienced, becoming objective and truthful information .

3 Geographical location

Collecting data related to geographic location or spatial location is also direct knowledge. Know the address of a building or part, but also of a city or country. They are specific data that by following their directions you can always get there.

4 Dates 

Dates are data extracts that are and included in documents and also record when certain events occurred . These references are always used in an objective way in order to have a notion of when a certain activity or event has happened.

5 Weight

This is a piece of information that the guardian relates to previous examples. Like dates and geographic location, weight does not indicate an objective fact about a physical characteristic.  The units of measurement will always be a reference factor that allows to have a precise evidence, a unique quality of an object with which it can be described.

6 Chemical effects

In chemistry, various experiments are carried out that allow us to understand how certain natural events that are related to certain substances develop . These have properties that make them susceptible to react in a certain way when they come into contact with other substances or adverse actions.

The effects of chemicals can only be determined by doing a direct experiment. These are data that are part of direct knowledge because they do not change and they are also real. They can be used as a reference for when their application is required in future experiments.

7 The senses of perception 

Perception is a faculty that depends on the physical organs that allow us to collect data on what is happening outside. Understanding it in another way, the senses that people use will always be related to the organs of the skin for touch, eluded for hearing, the eyes for seeing, the nose for smelling and the tongue for taste.

Through the use of the five senses, the perception will be broader and more precise when collecting the data of everything that happens around. This is direct knowledge because a close relationship is being established with everything that is being investigated . In addition, it will be updated information and of which we will be certain that it is real.