Understanding Types of Knowledge and Their Complexity

The question asks us to arrange different kinds of knowledge based on their increasing complexity. Let's analyze each type of knowledge mentioned:

• Know-what: This refers to knowledge about facts. It's declarative knowledge, like knowing that Paris is the capital of France or knowing the definition of a term. This is generally considered the most basic form of knowledge.
• Know-why: This involves understanding the principles, laws, and relationships that explain why something happens. It goes beyond simple facts to grasp causality and underlying mechanisms. For example, knowing why a specific chemical reaction occurs. This is more complex than knowing just the facts.
• Know-how: This is procedural knowledge – the ability to do something skillfully. It's about practical application and technique. Examples include knowing how to ride a bike, how to solve an equation, or how to perform a surgery. It often requires applying 'know-what' and 'know-why' in a practical context and developing skill through practice, making it typically more complex than just understanding principles.
• Know-who: This is knowledge about who knows what, who is an expert in a particular area, who has specific information, or who holds influence. It's related to social networks and understanding relationships and connections. This type of knowledge is often tacit, context-dependent, and crucial for navigating organizations or finding the right resources. Building and leveraging 'know-who' is usually the most complex and time-consuming, often requiring social intelligence and experience.

Based on this analysis, we can order the types of knowledge from least complex to most complex:

1. Know-what (Facts) - Least Complex
2. Know-why (Principles, Explanations) - More complex than 'what'
3. Know-how (Skills, Practical Application) - More complex than 'why', involves action
4. Know-who (Social Networks, Relationships) - Most Complex, often tacit and contextual

Therefore, the increasing order of complexity is:

Know-what → Know-why → Know-how → Know-who

Which corresponds to:

C → B → A → D

Let's summarize this in a table:

The correct order of complexity is C, B, A, D.

Revision Table: Knowledge Complexity

Additional Information: Types of Knowledge

Understanding the different types of knowledge is fundamental in fields like education, psychology, and knowledge management. These categories help us think about how knowledge is acquired, stored, and applied.

• Declarative Knowledge (Know-what): This is explicit knowledge that can be stated or declared. It includes facts, concepts, rules, and principles. It answers the question "what is it?".
• Procedural Knowledge (Know-how): This is implicit knowledge related to skills and abilities. It's knowledge of how to perform tasks. It answers the question "how to do it?". It is often difficult to articulate explicitly.
• Conditional Knowledge: While not in the options, this is another important type. It's knowing when and why to apply certain knowledge or skills. It involves strategic thinking and problem-solving.
• Tacit Knowledge: 'Know-how' and 'Know-who' often fall under the umbrella of tacit knowledge. This is knowledge that is difficult to transfer or write down because it is based on personal experience, intuition, and context. It contrasts with explicit knowledge, which can be easily codified and communicated. 'Know-who' is particularly tacit as it involves social dynamics and relationships.

The complexity increases as we move from simple factual recall ('what') to understanding underlying reasons ('why'), applying that understanding in practice ('how'), and finally navigating complex social and relational landscapes ('who').