the Knowledge

The Knowledge is the in-depth study of London street routes and places of interest that taxicab-drivers must complete to obtain a licence to operate a black cab. It was instigated in 1851, and has changed little since.

It is the world's most demanding training course for taxicab-drivers; and applicants will usually need at least 12 'Appearances' (attempts at the final test), after preparation averaging 34 months, to pass the examination.

Your mate doesn't stand a chance to pass the Knowledge no matter how hard he tries!

by joesmith October 11, 2006

DO THE KNOWLEDGE

To break down and explore a subject with another person

Yo son, do the knowledge on how they tried to fire me yestarday....

by HIT HARD December 12, 2006

on the knowledge

UK Slang. Mostly used by taxi drivers when referring to the way they drive, using knowledge of the area they have gained, rather than maps or GPS.

"this taxi driver rules, he's on the knowledge"

by AllSeeingJamus September 16, 2008

absorb the knowledge

(verb) to flip somebody off while saying "absorb the knowledge." Usually said when you disagree with someone or want them to know you're not interested in what they're saying.

Person 1: "hey man can give you give me a ride home?"

Person 2: "how about you absorb the knowledge."

"She knocked on my door asking to get back together. I told her to absorb the knowledge."

"I wish I could tell my boss to absorb the knowledge."

by highschool45 May 13, 2023

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