Theory of the Social Power of Knowledge

A systematic account of how knowledge functions as a social resource, distributed unevenly and hoarded strategically. This theory examines how institutions credentialize some knowers and disqualify others, how knowledge communities form and police their boundaries, how epistemic authority translates into material advantage. It reveals that the "marketplace of ideas" is never a level playing field—some ideas arrive with trust funds, others show up in hand-me-downs. Understanding this theory means understanding that every claim to knowledge is also a claim to power.

Theory of the Social Power of Knowledge "The Theory of the Social Power of Knowledge explains why your uncle's YouTube research doesn't carry the same weight as a doctor's opinion, even when they're saying the same thing. It's not about the information—it's about the social position of the informer."

by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal February 22, 2026

Theory of Constructed Knowledge

The proposition that knowledge isn't discovered ready-made in the world but is actively built by knowers through their interactions with reality, their communities, and their tools. We don't find facts lying around like rocks—we construct them through observation, interpretation, negotiation, and consensus. This doesn't mean knowledge is arbitrary or "made up"—it means that knowledge is made, not found, and understanding how it's made is essential to understanding what it is. The Theory of Constructed Knowledge studies the workshops where facts are built, the laborers who build them, and the materials they use.

"You think 'democracy' is just a fact about some countries? Theory of Constructed Knowledge says: democracy is a concept built over centuries, through revolutions, debates, failures, and compromises. It's not a discovered object—it's a constructed reality. And it's still under construction, which is why it's so messy."

by Dumu The Void February 24, 2026

The 2 Axes of the Knowledge Spectrum

A foundational model for understanding the nature of knowledge along two fundamental dimensions. The first axis runs from A Priori Knowledge (knowledge independent of experience—math, logic, conceptual truths) to A Posteriori Knowledge (knowledge dependent on experience—empirical facts, scientific observations). The second axis runs from Propositional Knowledge (knowing that—facts, information) to Procedural Knowledge (knowing how—skills, abilities, practices). These two axes create four basic knowledge types: a priori-propositional (mathematical truths), a priori-procedural (knowing how to reason), a posteriori-propositional (scientific facts), a posteriori-procedural (knowing how to ride a bike). The model reveals that "knowledge" isn't one thing—it's a family of cognitive achievements with different sources and different forms.

The 2 Axes of the Knowledge Spectrum "You say you know it. The 2 Axes ask: know that or know how? Know from reason or from experience? Knowing that 2+2=4 is very different from knowing how to ride a bike. Same word, different kinds. The axes help you see that 'knowledge' covers a lot of territory—and treating all knowledge like math is a category error."

by Dumu The Void February 25, 2026

The 4 Axes of the Knowledge Spectrum

An expanded model adding two crucial dimensions to the basic framework. Axis 1: A Priori-A Posteriori (reason vs. experience). Axis 2: Propositional-Procedural (that vs. how). Axis 3: Personal-Communal (knowledge held by individuals vs. knowledge stored in communities). Axis 4: Explicit-Tacit (knowledge you can state vs. knowledge you can't articulate). These four axes create sixteen knowledge types. Scientific knowledge is a posteriori, propositional, communal (scientific community knows), explicit (published). Cultural knowledge is a posteriori, procedural (knowing how to navigate a culture), communal, tacit (you just know how things work). The 4 Axes reveal that debates about knowledge often confuse these dimensions—dismissing tacit knowledge because it's not explicit, or communal knowledge because it's not personal.

The 4 Axes of the Knowledge Spectrum "You say you can't prove what you know. The 4 Axes ask: what kind of knowledge? Tacit knowledge can't be proved—that's its nature. Procedural knowledge is shown, not stated. Communal knowledge is distributed, not owned. The axes help you see that demanding explicit propositional proof for all knowledge is like demanding a fish to climb a tree."

by Dumu The Void February 25, 2026

The 6 Axes of the Knowledge Spectrum

A comprehensive model adding dimensions of certainty and access. Axis 1: A Priori-A Posteriori. Axis 2: Propositional-Procedural. Axis 3: Personal-Communal. Axis 4: Explicit-Tacit. Axis 5: Certain-Fallible (knowledge that can't be wrong vs. knowledge that might be mistaken). Axis 6: Direct-Inferential (known directly vs. known through reasoning). These six axes generate sixty-four knowledge positions. Mathematical knowledge is a priori, propositional, personal (when learned), explicit, certain (in ideal), inferential (proved). Perceptual knowledge is a posteriori, propositional, personal, explicit (usually), fallible, direct. The 6 Axes reveal that different kinds of knowledge have different epistemic statuses—certainty isn't the same for all.

The 6 Axes of the Knowledge Spectrum "You demand certainty. The 6 Axes ask: what kind of knowledge? Math can be certain (maybe). Perceptual knowledge can't—that's not its function. Certainty is a feature of some knowledge types, not a requirement for all. The axes help you see that demanding certainty from empirical knowledge is asking for the wrong thing."

by Dumu The Void February 25, 2026

The 8 Axes of the Knowledge Spectrum

A detailed model adding dimensions of subject matter and value. Axis 1: A Priori-A Posteriori. Axis 2: Propositional-Procedural. Axis 3: Personal-Communal. Axis 4: Explicit-Tacit. Axis 5: Certain-Fallible. Axis 6: Direct-Inferential. Axis 7: Empirical-Conceptual (knowledge of facts vs. knowledge of concepts/meanings). Axis 8: Instrumental-Intrinsic (knowledge for use vs. knowledge for its own sake). These eight axes create 256 knowledge positions. Scientific knowledge is a posteriori, propositional, communal, explicit, fallible, inferential, empirical, both instrumental and intrinsic. Philosophical knowledge is often a priori, propositional, personal (though debated), explicit, fallible (or certain in some views), inferential, conceptual, intrinsic. The 8 Axes demonstrate that knowledge isn't just about truth—it's about purpose, subject, and value.

The 8 Axes of the Knowledge Spectrum "You say knowledge is just facts. The 8 Axes ask: facts about what? Empirical facts (science) or conceptual facts (philosophy)? Facts for use (engineering) or for understanding (pure math)? The axes show that 'facts' are as varied as knowledge itself. Treating all knowledge as empirical facts for use is like treating all food as protein bars—nutritionally reductive and spiritually empty."

by Dumu The Void February 25, 2026

The 12 Axes of the Knowledge Spectrum

An ultra-fine-grained model adding dimensions of justification, reliability, and social context. Building on the 8 Axes, we add: Axis 9: Justified-Unjustified (knowledge requires justification vs. reliable process suffices). Axis 10: Internalist-Externalist (justification depends on internal reasons vs. external reliability). Axis 11: Individualist-Social (knowledge is individual achievement vs. fundamentally social). Axis 12: Universal-Particular (knowledge of general truths vs. knowledge of specific facts). These twelve axes generate 4096 knowledge positions. Traditional epistemology (Plato's justified true belief) is internalist (reasons matter), individualist (the knower knows), and applies to both universal and particular. Reliabilist epistemology is externalist (reliable process suffices), individualist, universal and particular. Social epistemology is social (knowledge is communal achievement), externalist often, universal and particular. The 12 Axes reveal that debates about what knowledge is—justified true belief? reliable process? social achievement?—are debates about which axes matter most.

The 12 Axes of the Knowledge Spectrum "You think knowledge is justified true belief. The 12 Axes ask: justified internally (by reasons) or externally (by reliability)? Individually or socially? Universal or particular? Plato's definition assumes answers—internalist, individualist, both universal and particular. But externalists and social epistemologists disagree. The axes show that 'knowledge' is contested because different epistemologists make different choices on these axes—not because they're confused, but because knowledge itself is multidimensional."

by Dumu The Void February 25, 2026