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The Elusive Definition of Knowledge

In: Emergent Knowledge Strategies

Author

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  • Ettore Bolisani

    (University of Padua)

  • Constantin Bratianu

    (Bucharest University of Economic Studies)

Abstract

Knowledge is an abstract concept without any reference to the tangible world. It is a very powerful concept, yet it has no clear definition so far. From the Greek philosophers up to present experts in knowledge management, people tried to define knowledge but the results are still very fuzzy. This chapter has the intention of showing the most significant aspects of the dispute over the definition of knowledge, and the main conceptual barriers in that endeavor. In the first part of the chapter we discuss about the knowledge nature and the attempts made in epistemology to define knowledge. The well-known definition that knowledge is justified true belief is shown to have the limitations given by the justification condition and the truth nature. In the second part, we consider the metaphorical approach to knowledge explanation and we present the main metaphors used for knowledge in the managerial literature: knowledge as objects, knowledge nuggets, knowledge as an iceberg, and knowledge as stocks and flows. In the last part, we introduce a new paradigm of metaphorical thinking based on the knowledge energy. This metaphor opens new opportunities for understanding knowledge as a multi-field paradigm composed of the rational, emotional, and spiritual knowledge fields.

Suggested Citation

  • Ettore Bolisani & Constantin Bratianu, 2018. "The Elusive Definition of Knowledge," Knowledge Management and Organizational Learning, in: Emergent Knowledge Strategies, chapter 1, pages 1-22, Springer.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:kmochp:978-3-319-60657-6_1
    DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-60657-6_1
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Piñeiro-Chousa, Juan & López-Cabarcos, M. Ángeles & Romero-Castro, Noelia María & Pérez-Pico, Ada María, 2020. "Innovation, entrepreneurship and knowledge in the business scientific field: Mapping the research front," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 115(C), pages 475-485.
    2. Mabe, Franklin N., 2023. "Small-scale mining policies in Ghana: Miners’ knowledge, attitudes and practices," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(PA).
    3. Yang Cai & Youming Song & Xia Xiao & Wendian Shi, 2020. "The Effect of Social Capital on Tacit Knowledge-Sharing Intention: The Mediating Role of Employee Vigor," SAGE Open, , vol. 10(3), pages 21582440209, July.
    4. Wided Ragmoun & Abdulaziz Abdulmohsen Alfalih, 2021. "Sustainable Academic Innovativeness: Towards the Understanding of a New Construct and the Development of Scale," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 12(2), pages 695-715, June.
    5. Hasan Fehmi Topal & Dexter V. L. Hunt & Christopher D. F. Rogers, 2021. "Exploring Urban Sustainability Understanding and Behaviour: A Systematic Review towards a Conceptual Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-33, January.
    6. Kiessling, Timothy & Maley, Jane Frances & Moeller, Miriam & Dabić, Marina, 2023. "Managing global knowledge transfer: Inpatriate manager embeddedness and firm innovation," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(2).
    7. Gennady Shkliarevsky, 2022. "Is Our Research Productivity In Decline? A New Approach in Resolving the Controversy," Papers 2203.01235, arXiv.org.
    8. Lawrence Ayah Iruo, M.Ed, M.Sc, RN & Ransome Buloala, PhD, RN & Rosemary Ezekiel, PhD, RN & Deborah Alawari Pepple, BN.Sc, RN, 2023. "Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Cervical Cancer Screening Amongst Female Students of a Private University in South-South Nigeria," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 7(5), pages 1099-1113, May.
    9. Aldona Małgorzata Dereń & Jan Skonieczny & Sylwia Łukaszczykiewicz, 2022. "E-Learning as an Instrument for Managing Knowledge in the Field of Sustainable Development in a Chemical Company in Poland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-16, July.
    10. Chux Gervase Iwu & Abdullah Promise Opute & Olayemi Abdullateef Aliyu & Chukuakadibia Eresia-Eke & Tichaona Buzy Musikavanhu & Afeez Olalekan Jaiyeola, 2021. "A Structural Equation Modelling Evaluation of Antecedents and Interconnections of Call Centre Agents’ Intention to Quit," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-21, April.
    11. Beata Świecka & Paweł Terefenko & Tomasz Wiśniewski & Jingjian Xiao, 2021. "Consumer Financial Knowledge and Cashless Payment Behavior for Sustainable Development in Poland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-18, June.
    12. Tran Huy Phuong, 2019. "How authentic leadership promotes individual knowledge sharing: viewing from the lens of COR theory," Management & Marketing, Sciendo, vol. 14(4), pages 386-401, December.

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