Everybody tends to lean towards one or another way of thinking. Some people are very practical, some others are pretty analytical, and some just like looking at the world through the lens of complexity. As all of those ways of thinking are necessary for a society to work and progress, each one of them produces a different type of knowledge. And we can’t discuss knowledge without mentioning Aristotle.
If you were wondering whether there is a type of knowledge that excels in importance, the answer is no, all types of knowledge and all ways of thinking have their intrinsic value, even though in some cases, the answer to a specific problem requires a piece of specific knowledge.
Have you ever been trying to solve a riddle and the only answer you can come up with is too simple, so you keep running in circles and analyzing the possible answers to later find out that the chicken crossed the street just to get to the other side? Well… not applying the required way of thinking for the task is exemplified humorously in this example.
This overanalytical and complex train of thought may be perfect for a moral dilemma, wondering what motives could the chicken have to cross the street; but not for a simple and practical joke. Having a preferred way of thinking is only natural, but knowing how to think, what, and when is a key to success.
The 3 Types of Knowledge
You may have heard about the Greek philosopher Aristotle, whose timeless ideas about ethics (and much more) still serve as the core of many theories used today.
In one of the books of his work called The Nicomachean Ethics, he writes about intellectual virtue and explains three different types of knowledge required to solve a problem.
The first one is Techné: this is the craft knowledge, the skill, the techniques… The type of knowledge you need when it comes to using a tool or creating something; to bring something new into the world; is all about the method.
The second one is Episteme: also known as scientific knowledge; here we have everything that is on the cognitive task of understanding; this area tries to be very objective, it explores those facts that even though they might be unknown at the moment, they cannot be anything other than they are; like the stars, gravity, or any other law of nature.
And, finally, we have Phronesis: which simply describes practical wisdom or an ethical judgment; when there is no correct answer, phronesis judges things according to the aim of living well overall; it involves making sound decisions when there is ambiguous data, to make the best you can with what you have.
We all can use and acquire information from any realm of knowledge but have a subtle preference for one or another. So, what happens when you are the leader?
Applying Them In Leadership
As the head of the team for this project, your responsibilities extend beyond creating, even if you are an architect who leans towards a techné type of thinking and possesses extensive knowledge in this realm.
This time, you and the engineers need to analyze the ground where the building will be placed. Utilize your epistemic knowledge about topography to determine whether the project can be done or needs modification.
You are expected to utilize your phronesis knowledge to prioritize the funds throughout the project, deciding where to invest the major part of the budget and where to cut some funds, as the financial team relies on you.
As a leader, not only will you find yourself needing to employ various types of reasoning and knowledge, but you should also be able to identify the one required in any given problem.
Comprehending the nature of situations in front of you and determining the best way to solve them, or identifying the right person for the task, is a crucial part of the job. Phronesis problems cannot be solved by an epistemic answer, and so on.
Acknowledging this type of knowledge and taking a moment to look for the best fit to the needed reasoning saves a lot of time and energy, even though it might be challenging. Being a good leader is all about strategies, knowing your team and their strengths but also cultivating yours and trying to improve yourself constantly.
Once you learn to identify the types of knowledge you are probably going to see them everywhere and finding the best solution to a problem will become easier. So, why don’t you give Aristotle a try?
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