Knowledge isn't one-size-fits-all. It comes in many forms, just like maps. Some knowledge comes from experience (empirical), while other knowledge explains why things happen (explanatory). For example, we know from experience that objects fall when dropped - this is due to gravity (explanatory knowledge).

Real-world example: You can relate knowledge forms to cooking. Empirical knowledge is you knowing how to cook a dish because you've done it before. Explanatory knowledge is understanding why certain ingredients interact in specific ways to make your dish delicious.

Your upbringing and education have given you different "maps" or types of knowledge that you use to navigate and understand the world. Reflect on these questions:

• What areas are missing or underexplored in your knowledge maps?

• Are there any conflicting maps?

• Do you hold any incorrect knowledge, and how can you tell?

Real-world example: Suppose you learned about climate change in school (knowledge map), but your parents are climate skeptics. These are conflicting knowledge maps. You could determine which is accurate by looking at the consensus of scientists who have studied the issue extensively.

Knowledge is intertwined with power and authority. The more persuasive knowledge often holds sway. It's essential to ask why we trust certain knowledge claims over others.

Real-world example: We may trust a doctor's advice over a friend's because we perceive the doctor to have more knowledge and authority about health.

Knowledge has concrete origins and consequences, despite seeming abstract. It's linked to the tools, places, and contexts where it was produced. It can also be transferred across time and space, such as through language. Consider what happens to knowledge not expressed through language.

Real-world example: The knowledge of how to make a wheel was first discovered centuries ago, but it has been passed down and improved over time, allowing for the creation of vehicles and transportation as we know it today.