IdiaStat or Datanet India is an example of empirical and semantic knowledge types. This website allows one to access data from verified scholarly journals and publications made by Indian scientists. Hence, the resource is a valuable source of knowledge that one can use to expand their understanding of the world. This object was selected for two reasons, and the first one is the fact that empirical knowledge is the only reliable source of data for the scientific community. Hence, doctors or social scientists have to make assumptions based on the data they have, and it is best to retrieve this data from reliable sources and ensure that it represents real life. In contrast to this, empirical knowledge derived from one’s senses is less valuable because it may not be representative of the general population.
To illustrate this, one can think about vaccines, and for example, the one developed for COVID-19. For a vaccine to enter a market, it has to be tested and verified, and the scientists have to show proof that this medication is safe or that its benefits outweigh potential complications. To achieve this, scientists aim to receive empirical data through randomized controlled trials. In contrast, if they were to use data that is based on their own perceptions and not tests, many people would be subjected to risks as it is difficult to predict the effect of medication on a complex system that is a human body. Hence, with science, knowledge derived from empirical evidence is clearly much more valuable when compared to the one that is based on feelings, assumptions, or personal preferences. IndiaStat is a collection of empirical findings and data, and this website illustrates how one type of knowledge can be more valuable than the others.
This object illustrates the idea of some types of knowledge being more useful than others because it is applied in a scenario that allows one to leverage this information. While having general knowledge is valuable and helps a person lead their day-to-day life, specific tacit knowledge is necessary to build a career and succeed in life. This object is a website by IMMPI, which is an academy based in India that teaches future programmers. Moreover, this program is specifically designed for computer science specialists who will work in the medical field. This object was included in this discussion because a degree program is a source of practical, empirical, and tacit knowledge for any individual enrolled in it. Hence, the outcome of this knowledge source must be valuable knowledge.
However, this object also shows that application determines the usefulness of the knowledge type since the practical skills that people enrolled in this program gain can only be applied for writing code for the medical industry. Hence, when applying for a job position of a physician, the knowledge that the graduates of this program will have will not be helpful. Moreover, since the knowledge gained under this program is mainly practical and applicable to one field, it will not be useful during a discussion about art, which requires a different type of knowledge. With this, one would have to possess an understanding of implicit knowledge. This object illustrates that different types of knowledge can be more valuable than the others, but this depends on the context and the specific circumstances.