What is “lore”? What does it mean to know something?
There are four types of knowledge—with deep traditions and language* behind them. Sailing combines all four.
For each type of lore, this chart give a simple definition, along with: describing the contexts in which they are learned, the word root, and the alliterative term used by cognitive scientist / philosopher John Vervaeke.
| Concise, simple definition | Contextual description: | Concrete sailing example: | Ancient Greek term | John Vervaeke’s 4 Ps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| know-that | facts, theory: what you can learn in classroom, via reference material | A ketch has two masts, with main taller than mizzen | episteme | propositional knowledge |
| know-how | how to do something, e.g. that learned in a studio, workshop, on-the-job | tying a bowline | technē | procedural knowledge |
| know-as | from being a particular occupation (e.g. sailmaker) or in a particular position (e.g. bowman) | when jib is properly trimmed | noesis | perspectival knowledge |
| know-by | living through an experience or situation (especially repeatedly) | rounding Cape Horn, single-handed | gnosis^ | participatory knowledge |
*For those who haven’t kept up with their ancient Greek provides terms, it helps to remember today’s derived terms:
Epistemology: the philosophy branch dedicated to knowledge
Technology: the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes
Noetic: of, relating to, or based on the intellect
Gnostic(ism): religious ideas oriented toward knowledge and understanding
^ I may replace / augment gnosis with (an)other Ancient Greek term(s):
Phronesis is a term that refers to practical wisdom or intelligence
Metis is accumulated wisdom: practical, experiential, tacit knowledge
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