Dr David McGrath

Spine Physician

MB BS (Hons) FAFOM, RACP, FAFMM
Master of Pain Medicine

Knowledge from a biological perspective amounts to effective action within a specified domain.
Here's the maths.

KnowledgeDomain Specificity	Required Knowledge	Not Required Knowledge
Current Knowledge	a	b
Knowledge That Could Be Learned	c	d

Cell "a" represents Existing knowledge that is Necessary.
Cell "b" represents Existing knowledge that Is Superfluous to Effective action
Cell "c" represents Non Existent knowledge that Is Required for Effective action.
Cell "d" represents Non Existent knowledge that is Not Required for Effective action

Let's consider an example. When trying to record from my new video recorder, I had the following knowledge base.

I knew about TV's and videos (cell "a").
I don't know about input/output requirements of the video (cell "c").
I don't know about anything about the remote control (cell "d").
I knew the way I did it last time. (cell "b")

In trying to establish "c" a lot a diversion can occur in "b" and "d"

Okay,this is pretty simple but it get's more intersesting. Patterns of behavior or knowledge can constructively or destructively interfere with each other. The current knowledge "b" and distraction "d" can get in the way of effective action "a+c" particularly if the actions look superficially the same.The new video may appear similar but have completely unique input/output jacks. I also don't know that the remote is irrelevent. In this case, it would be better learning from scratch without prior knowledge and by not observing the remote.

I need knowledge "c" but I keep remembering "b" and I am distracted by "d'.

What is required operationally is to experiment with options until "c" emerges as the necessary partner with "a".

When entering a new domain of action or even revisiting a familiar domain, we are unaware of the new knowledge we require for effective action. We must by necessity, experiment by trial and error,seeking the operational coherency we are after.