Knowledge vs. Concept — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 27, 2024
Knowledge is the understanding or awareness gained through experience or education, focusing on facts and information. Concept, on the other hand, refers to a general idea or understanding that is abstract and not tied to specific instances.
Difference Between Knowledge and Concept
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Knowledge is primarily about facts, information, and skills acquired through experience or education. It's about understanding or awareness that can be shared and communicated. Whereas, a concept is an abstract idea or a mental grouping of similar objects, events, or people, based on common properties, without requiring personal experience.
Knowledge can be concrete and specific, often based on empirical evidence or specific instances. It is cumulative and builds over time, enhancing one's understanding of the world. On the other hand, concepts are more about organizing knowledge into categories or frameworks, making it easier to understand and apply knowledge in various situations.
While knowledge can be tested and verified, concepts serve as the foundation for generating and organizing knowledge. Concepts help in the development of theories and hypotheses, guiding the search for new knowledge.
Knowledge is often discipline-specific, requiring a context to be fully understood and applied. For example, scientific knowledge differs significantly from historical knowledge in terms of how it's acquired and used. Conversely, concepts can be cross-disciplinary, providing a bridge between different fields of knowledge by offering a common framework for understanding diverse phenomena.
Knowledge grows and evolves with new discoveries and insights, becoming more detailed and comprehensive over time. Meanwhile, concepts may remain relatively stable but can also evolve as understanding deepens or as they are applied in new ways.
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Comparison Chart
Nature
Concrete, specific
Abstract, general
Basis
Experience, education, empirical evidence
Mental grouping based on common properties
Purpose
To inform, educate, and guide actions
To categorize, understand, and theorize
Application
Specific to disciplines, used to solve problems
Cross-disciplinary, used to frame ideas and knowledge
Evolution
Grows and evolves with new information
May evolve in understanding, but often remains foundational
Compare with Definitions
Knowledge
Awareness or familiarity gained by experience of a fact or situation.
His knowledge of world history is impressive.
Concept
A general notion or idea.
The concept of sustainable development calls for environmental, economic, and social balance.
Knowledge
Facts, information, and skills acquired by a person through experience or education.
The guide shared his knowledge of the local flora and fauna.
Concept
A plan or intention.
The architect's concept for the new building was innovative and eco-friendly.
Knowledge
Information and skills acquired through experience or education.
The curriculum is designed to broaden students' knowledge.
Concept
An idea or invention to help sell or publicize a commodity.
The marketing team developed a new concept to boost sales.
Knowledge
The theoretical or practical understanding of a subject.
She has a deep knowledge of biochemical processes.
Concept
An abstract idea representing the fundamental characteristics of what it represents.
The concept of justice varies across cultures.
Knowledge
The sum of what is known.
The library was a vast repository of human knowledge.
Concept
A principle or idea.
The concept of gravity explains why objects fall towards the Earth.
Knowledge
Knowledge is a familiarity, awareness, or understanding of someone or something, such as facts (descriptive knowledge), skills (procedural knowledge), or objects (acquaintance knowledge). By most accounts, knowledge can be acquired in many different ways and from many sources, including but not limited to perception, reason, memory, testimony, scientific inquiry, education, and practice.
Concept
Concepts are defined as abstract ideas or general notions that occur in the mind, in speech, or in thought. They are understood to be the fundamental building blocks of thoughts and beliefs.
Knowledge
Facts, information, and skills acquired through experience or education; the theoretical or practical understanding of a subject
A thirst for knowledge
Her considerable knowledge of antiques
Concept
An abstract idea
Structuralism is a difficult concept
The concept of justice
Knowledge
Awareness or familiarity gained by experience of a fact or situation
The programme had been developed without his knowledge
He denied all knowledge of the incidents
Concept
A general idea or understanding of something
The concept of inertia.
The concept of free will.
Knowledge
The state or fact of knowing
Humans naturally aspire to knowledge.
Concept
A plan or original idea
The original concept was for a building with 12 floors.
Knowledge
Familiarity, awareness, or understanding gained through experience or study
Has great knowledge of these parts.
Has only limited knowledge of chemistry.
Concept
A unifying idea or theme, especially for a product or service
A new restaurant concept.
Knowledge
The sum or range of what has been perceived, discovered, or learned
The extraordinary knowledge housed in the library.
Concept
Having an experimental or strikingly different design, especially to test or demonstrate new features
A concept car.
Knowledge
(Archaic) Carnal knowledge.
Concept
An abstract and general idea; an abstraction.
Knowledge
The fact of knowing about something; general understanding or familiarity with a subject, place, situation etc.
His knowledge of Iceland was limited to what he'd seen on the Travel Channel.
Concept
Understanding retained in the mind, from experience, reasoning and imagination; a generalization (generic, basic form), or abstraction (mental impression), of a particular set of instances or occurrences (specific, though different, recorded manifestations of the concept).
Knowledge
Awareness of a particular fact or situation; a state of having been informed or made aware of something.
Concept
(generic programming) A description of supported operations on a type, including their syntax and semantics.
Knowledge
Intellectual understanding; the state of appreciating truth or information.
Knowledge consists in recognizing the difference between good and bad decisions.
Concept
To conceive; to dream up
Knowledge
Familiarity or understanding of a particular skill, branch of learning etc.
Does your friend have any knowledge of hieroglyphs, perchance?
A secretary should have a good knowledge of shorthand.
Concept
An abstract general conception; a notion; a universal.
The words conception, concept, notion, should be limited to the thought of what can not be represented in the imagination; as, the thought suggested by a general term.
Knowledge
(philosophical) Justified true belief
Concept
An abstract or general idea inferred or derived from specific instances
Knowledge
(obsolete) Information or intelligence about something; notice.
Knowledge
The total of what is known; all information and products of learning.
His library contained the accumulated knowledge of the Greeks and Romans.
Knowledge
(countable) Something that can be known; a branch of learning; a piece of information; a science.
Knowledge
(obsolete) Acknowledgement.
Knowledge
(obsolete) Notice, awareness.
Knowledge
The deep familiarity with certain routes and places of interest required by taxicab drivers working in London, England.
Knowledge
(obsolete) To confess as true; to acknowledge.
Knowledge
The act or state of knowing; clear perception of fact, truth, or duty; certain apprehension; familiar cognizance; cognition.
Knowledge, which is the highest degree of the speculative faculties, consists in the perception of the truth of affirmative or negative propositions.
Knowledge
That which is or may be known; the object of an act of knowing; a cognition; - chiefly used in the plural.
There is a great difference in the delivery of the mathematics, which are the most abstracted of knowledges.
Knowledges is a term in frequent use by Bacon, and, though now obsolete, should be revived, as without it we are compelled to borrow "cognitions" to express its import.
To use a word of Bacon's, now unfortunately obsolete, we must determine the relative value of knowledges.
Knowledge
That which is gained and preserved by knowing; instruction; acquaintance; enlightenment; learning; scholarship; erudition.
Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
Ignorance is the curse of God;Knowledge, the wing wherewith we fly to heaven.
Knowledge
That familiarity which is gained by actual experience; practical skill; as, a knowledge of life.
Shipmen that had knowledge of the sea.
Knowledge
Scope of information; cognizance; notice; as, it has not come to my knowledge.
Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldst take knowledge of me?
Knowledge
To acknowledge.
Knowledge
The psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning
Common Curiosities
What is knowledge?
Knowledge is the understanding, awareness, or familiarity gained through experience or education, often about facts or situations.
What is a concept?
A concept is an abstract idea or general notion that categorizes or frames understanding, often representing fundamental characteristics of what it represents.
Can knowledge exist without concepts?
While knowledge can be empirical and specific, concepts are necessary for categorizing and making sense of this knowledge in a broader context.
Are concepts more important than knowledge?
Both are essential; concepts help organize and frame understanding, while knowledge provides the content and substance within these frameworks.
Can a concept change over time?
Yes, concepts can evolve as understanding deepens or as they are applied in new contexts.
How do we acquire knowledge?
Knowledge is acquired through experience, education, observation, and learning from various sources.
How does knowledge differ from a concept?
Knowledge is concrete and specific, based on facts and experiences, whereas a concept is abstract, serving as a mental framework for organizing knowledge.
Is knowledge always based on facts?
Knowledge is typically based on facts, evidence, or experience, but it can also include understanding theories and principles.
What role do concepts play in science?
In science, concepts are crucial for formulating hypotheses, theories, and models to explain and predict phenomena.
How are concepts developed?
Concepts are developed through abstraction and generalization from specific instances or by synthesizing information across different areas.
How do we use knowledge and concepts in daily life?
We use knowledge to make informed decisions and perform tasks, while concepts help us categorize and interpret our experiences and the world around us.
Why is it important to distinguish between knowledge and concepts?
Distinguishing between them helps clarify the type of information we are dealing with and how it can be used or applied, whether it's for practical tasks or theoretical understanding.
Can someone have knowledge without understanding?
One can have knowledge of facts or information without fully understanding the underlying principles or contexts.
How do concepts aid in learning?
Concepts aid in learning by providing a structure for organizing and relating information, making it easier to understand and remember.
Do concepts vary across cultures?
Yes, concepts can vary significantly across cultures, reflecting different understandings and values.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
