Acquired knowledge can be categorised into 2 types: personal knowledge and shared knowledge. The former refers to knowledge held by an individual and is not universally acknowledged. The latter refers to knowledge shared among a group, and that knowledge is largely the same for every member of that group. Although there may be slight differences in shared knowledge for individual members, knowledge can be classified as shared knowledge if if it is easily shared. However, every individual within that group gains knowledge using different ways of knowing in order to attain the same knowledge held by the rest of the group. This goes even further when an individual who is not part of any group gains knowledge. Yet, this does not equally apply to
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For example, shared knowledge in anthropology consists of the use of a common language, common methodologies and even anthropological theories. When knowledge is the same, reason can be used in the same way to arrive at the same conclusion. Reason works differently in personal knowledge and shared knowledge because of the inaccessibility of knowledge by others. However, reason does not always operate differently. When the researcher is explaining a set of rituals that they observed and why it is important to that culture, they use reason to understand what their observations. When the researcher describes their observations to other anthropologists, the others also employ reason in the same way to come to the same conclusion about the culture, without having personally gained the knowledge. For example, in Fadiman’s book, she makes references to other anthroplogists in her ethnographic study of the Hmong community. By referencing the knowledge of others which is generally accepted as fact, she ensures that other anthropologists can access her knowledge. In shared knowledge, the use of reason allows others to access knowledge, comparing against a common standard instead of a personal standard, such as fixed standards of research methodology and anthropological theories. This reduces the effect of personal bias in shared knowledge in anthropology.
Reason in personal knowledge and shared knowledge in anthropology operates both differently and similarly. Reason operates differently as a way of knowing in its role of acquiring knowledge, yet the way it is used in logic and induction in personal and shared knowledge is the
For example, shared knowledge in anthropology consists of the use of a common language, common methodologies and even anthropological theories. When knowledge is the same, reason can be used in the same way to arrive at the same conclusion. Reason works differently in personal knowledge and shared knowledge because of the inaccessibility of knowledge by others. However, reason does not always operate differently. When the researcher is explaining a set of rituals that they observed and why it is important to that culture, they use reason to understand what their observations. When the researcher describes their observations to other anthropologists, the others also employ reason in the same way to come to the same conclusion about the culture, without having personally gained the knowledge. For example, in Fadiman’s book, she makes references to other anthroplogists in her ethnographic study of the Hmong community. By referencing the knowledge of others which is generally accepted as fact, she ensures that other anthropologists can access her knowledge. In shared knowledge, the use of reason allows others to access knowledge, comparing against a common standard instead of a personal standard, such as fixed standards of research methodology and anthropological theories. This reduces the effect of personal bias in shared knowledge in anthropology.
Reason in personal knowledge and shared knowledge in anthropology operates both differently and similarly. Reason operates differently as a way of knowing in its role of acquiring knowledge, yet the way it is used in logic and induction in personal and shared knowledge is the