The 7 differences between common knowledge and scientific knowledge

There are many forms of knowledge, sometimes very different. One of the clearest divergences is that between the vulgar and the scientific.

We will see what characterizes each of these forms of them and what they are the differences between common knowledge and scientific knowledge, and in what contexts they are typically learned and used.

• Related article: "The 14 types of knowledge: what are they?"

Common knowledge and scientific knowledge: definitions

In order to assess the main differences between common knowledge and scientific knowledge, we must first understand what each of these forms of knowledge consists of. Focusing first on common knowledge, we must know that its technical name is empirical knowledge, since it is based merely on the personal experiences of the person who possesses it.

Common knowledge tries to explain the qualities of the world in which we live through the perception of the senses., that is, in a superficial way. This way of acquiring information has two fundamental characteristics. In the first place, we are talking about very particular knowledge for a specific event, which therefore cannot be generalized to other situations or different objects.

The second characteristic is that there is a contingency to the element and to the specific moment. In this sense, we cannot guarantee that a situation, no matter how much it has been repeated in the past, will happen in the same way. in the future, because this way of knowing escapes and therefore supposes one of the differences between common knowledge and scientific knowledge.

We must not fall into the error of considering common knowledge as false or negative.. It is the first form of knowledge that the human being can acquire and from which he later develops the others. It is generated in a random way, due to the presentation of different events in front of us, but It is also the one that, in a practical way, allows us to learn to function in day-to-day situations. day.

Regarding scientific knowledge, in its definition we find that it is based on verifiable facts and that therefore can be contrasted that explain a certain theory. of the science. This type of knowledge is generally collected through the scientific method. In addition, this form of knowledge supports a classification into two types.

On the one hand, we would have explicit knowledge, which is what allows all this information to be capture on a support and be transmitted to other people, so that other individuals can also acquire it. But the so-called tacit knowledge would also be scientific knowledge. It is about that knowledge that is part of the person as a skill developed for a task in question, whether technical, artisan or scientific.

We see that simply with the definitions of both concepts we can already appreciate differences between common knowledge and scientific knowledge.

The main differences between scientific knowledge and common knowledge

Once we have laid the foundations of both concepts, we can investigate the main differences between common knowledge and scientific knowledge. To do this, we will explore different categories in which divergences are observed.

1. What is the OBJETIVE

The very objective of common knowledge is none other than to have a minimum understanding of the events in the world to be able to interact with it in an appropriate way.

On the contrary, scientific knowledge implies a deep understanding, finding the reason for an event, supported by data that is available to everyone, to be able to replicate the experience whenever necessary.

Here arises one of the most important qualities of scientific knowledge, and that is that allows third parties, who had nothing to do with the original acquisition of said knowledge, to assimilate it also and therefore achieve an understanding of concepts that were far removed from their own personal experience.

2. How knowledge is acquired

Continuing with the differences between common knowledge and scientific knowledge, another variable to compare would be the way in which the knowledge in question has been acquired. Therefore, vulgar knowledge is acquired by perceiving a certain object or phenomenon that appears before the subject in a random way. In the case of scientific knowledge, this acquisition is given by a deep and deliberate observation.

The scientist tries to get to the origin of the phenomenon to find its basis and thus be able to explain it and above all to predict it in the future, extrapolating it to other familiar situations. In addition, as we have seen, this knowledge may be transmitted to other people who have not necessarily had direct contact with the object of study.

3. observation form

Although this point is somehow mentioned in the previous section, its importance requires further investigation. The key to observation in order to acquire scientific knowledge is that it must be systematic. The event is analyzed in depth, without altering it during this process.

However, when we talk about common or popular knowledge, the observation made by the person who is acquiring it is simply superficial. It collects the observed phenomenon and integrates it as a pattern that occurs in the perceived way, without inquiring into the complexity that underlying and therefore without being interested in the causes that make that event have happened specifically in that way and not in another different.

• You may be interested in: "The 8 steps of the scientific method"

4. depth level

The next on the list of differences between common knowledge and scientific knowledge has to do with the level of depth reached by the knowledge in question. In the case of common knowledge, we would be talking about a very superficial level, just enough to assimilate the pattern of the event witnessed, without inquiring further. Information is acquired in a static, passive way. The observer simply encounters the phenomenon.

Instead, scientific knowledge implies a high level of depth. The observer is an active part of the process, analyzing the underlying bases to find the exact information that he needs. that will allow you to find the explanation of the event in order to be able to give an explanation and make predictions in the future.

5. knowledge base

One of the most important differences between common knowledge and scientific knowledge has to do with their basis. When we talk about scientific knowledge, it is evident that the basis is rationality, since the logical explanation that hides the phenomenon that is being studied is sought.

However, vulgar knowledge has a basically sensitive, empirical basis. What we see is what has happened, without more. There is no need to understand why, the utility is not in the understanding, only in the mere knowledge of the fact that happened. That is why the first one is only descriptive, while the latter implies the preparation of statements and theories that will be verified through analysis.

6. correction level

Continuing with the differences between common knowledge and scientific knowledge, we must not forget the level of correctness or certainty that both imply. In the case of common knowledge, we have no guarantee that the beliefs generated by the person in this regard are correct., since they are based on his personal experience, at a specific moment.

On the contrary, scientific knowledge is based on verified data and therefore correct. This type of knowledge is self-correcting as the scientific observer is generating it, since he is constantly looking for the scheme that he can explain. in its entirety the collected phenomenon and can also predict its behavior in the future, so it is not only valid for that moment in concrete.

7. systematicity

Finally, we can distinguish these two forms of knowledge based on their systematic nature. In this sense, we verified that scientific knowledge is of a systematic type, that is, a system is followed and therefore certain rules and a certain order. In addition, this quality gives it the ability to serve as a basis for generating other different scientific knowledge, progressively increasing its complexity.

In the case of common knowledge, we do not find this systematicity. As we have already seen, this knowledge is generated automatically because an observer randomly encounters any phenomenon and collects the information through the senses. There is no defined system behind it, simply the perception of the person.

This would be the last in the list of differences between common knowledge and scientific knowledge that we have compiled to learn to easily distinguish these two forms of knowledge, thus understanding the importance of both and the utility that each one has.

Bibliographic references:

• Bachelard, G. (1978). Common knowledge and scientific knowledge. applied rationalism.
• Belda, m. (2007). Forms of Knowledge.
• Popper, K. (1974). Scientific knowledge. Madrid: Tecnos.
• Terradellas, M.R. (2009). The process of students to transform the vulgar knowledge, prejudices and stereotypes they have about education, into scientific knowledge. A 'Table A: Student-centered teaching planning'. Girona: University.