Open book against blue sky background Open book against blue sky background

How Can We Distinguish Between Knowledge, Belief and Opinion?

Knowledge, belief, and opinion- These three words sound a bit similar but are too different from each other. I mean it could be an interesting topic for a debate. Isn’t it? You can actually build a theoretical or technical explanation of these. And, we can’t bound these words to any dictionary or synonyms. All three are wide and have their own phenomenon.

So, how do we explain this phenomenon or terminologies, how do the meanings differ and how do they converge? Here, I would like to explain a little more about knowledge, belief, and opinion.

Let’s Begin with the Knowledge

We can say that knowledge is basically data or information that is backed up by logic. There is a definitive meaning to it and evidence and experience always support it. Knowledge is what we build upon by understanding the numbers, inferences, and facts about a subject or a topic.

Now we have to understand the fact that knowledge here does not just refer to bookish information that we acquire over years through education, research, or observation. It also includes the information we acquire by doing or observing things.

We can also use an example of propositional knowledge, which implies the knowledge or the interpretations that we get from religious literature like The Bhagavad Geeta, The Bible, and The Quran.

A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.

Marcus Garvey , jamaican activist

The Icy Whiz team talked to Lokesh Bohra, Founder of SustainableX, about the interplay between knowledge, belief, and opinion for informed decision-making. Here is what he said:

Lokesh Bohra - Featured
Lokesh Bohra

“You know, this whole thing about knowledge, beliefs, and opinions—it can get pretty messy if we’re not careful. We’re all just human, trying to make sense of the world around us based on our own experiences and upbringings.

But here’s the deal—at the end of the day, we have to ground ourselves in facts and credible information. That’s the knowledge base we all should be working from.

Our beliefs and opinions are great, but they can’t be stubbornly held as gospel if contradicted by new evidence and understanding. 

We have to stay humble, listen to each other’s perspectives, and be willing to update our views. That’s how we keep learning and growing together as individuals and as a society.”

I’ll Tell You About the Belief

A belief in very literal terms just means anything that you can believe in or anything that you believe in. Like we say, what’s your belief. Right? It does not necessarily need to be backed by logic, reasoning, or even evidence; it is basically a person’s acceptance of a particular thing or activity.

A lot of factors come into play in making a person believe in a particular thought. These can be cultural or social influences, religious inclination, the philosophical views that one follows, and the biggest one being their physical experiences.

The part that is to be noted about a belief is that it carries a high degree of certitude as well. It is as good as a conviction for the person who holds that belief. Because they believe in it so much that even without knowing the truth behind it, they are ready to alter their decisions based on their beliefs. So, I think the strength or the power of a belief is a very subjective and contextual thing to comment upon and varies from person to person, topic to topic.

For instance, people have their own religious and political beliefs. When you believe in any person or ideology, you become its follower without any argument.

Belief in the absence of illusions is itself an illusion.

Barbara Grizzuti Harrison

We interviewed Alex Cornici, SEO Manager at Awesome Hibachi, on the importance of this interplay. Here is an excerpt from the interview:

Alex Cornici - Featured
Alex Cornici

“It is imperative to understand how knowledge, beliefs, and opinions interrelate to come up with quality decisions and communication in personal and professional life.

Knowledge is the factual and evidence-based belief derived from individual conviction based on values, and opinion is a judgment developed individually through the integration of knowledge and beliefs.

Understanding the differences among them can help promote clear communication and effective decisions.

After all, to properly negotiate these elements, several strategies can be employed, such as clarifying the basis of statements—knowledge, belief, or opinion—so questions can be framed critically, and evidence evaluated.

This clears not only discussions but also helps in making better judgments. Meanwhile, active listening must be one strategy; wherein the reasons behind people’s beliefs and opinions will be understood, probably evoking sympathy and respect for different opinions.

Another successful approach is to search for common ground. It works when common values or objectives are found, even amid differing opinions; the conflict is decreased, and the ability for collaborative problem-solving is increased.

Encouraging a degree of open-mindedness in an environment where one should be willing to change his or her perspective based on new evidence or argumentation can bring greater adaptiveness and quality of decisions.

Furthermore, continuous education regarding the distinctions and connections between knowledge, belief, and opinion can empower people to engage in dialogues more thoughtfully; this not only enhances the quality of interactions but also encourages a culture of learning and growth.

For example, in our professional meetings, these emphases have generated more thoughtful discussions, along with a supportive team environment. 

By understanding and skillfully navigating the underpinnings of knowledge, belief, and opinion, we can enrich our relationships and make closer ties with others, which will ultimately create more thoughtful and inclusive processes of making decisions.

The approach benefits the growth of individuals but also enhances the collective outcomes of any group or organizational setting.”

Now, Let’s Talk About Opinion

Opinion is the easiest of all the three. It is just a view or a personal thinking about something, an issue, an activity, or even a human. A judgment that a person derives by interaction with a new object or person. The noteworthy part of an opinion is that unlike the other two, it is not merely a reflection of what the activity, or object of human is under observation.

It is also a reflection of the person who builds that opinion, so if a person has an opinion it is possible that it is purely based on the values, preferences, and feelings of that individual. It blossoms out of the values, emotions, and biases that a person carries.

I think we develop our opinions based on our knowledge and beliefs. However, opinions can be changed. Although, it is just an inclination towards one side. Its impact on an individual can be extreme, as people are ready to alter their decisions based on their opinions.

Different people have different opinions, and it’s okay to respect all of them.

Juan Pablo Galavis

Knowledge opinion and belief as we have seen now are basically terms that signify something along the same lines but with various factors that are different for different understandings.

Dr. James Hook, a Wellness Professional and MD at Neurogan Health talked to the Icy Whiz team about the interplay between knowledge, belief, and opinion for informed decision-making. Here is what he had to say:

Dr. James Hook
Dr. James Hook

“Largely, exposure to certain cultural factors builds a person’s beliefs, opinions, and knowledge. I think that our daily interactions have a huge impact on how an individual perceives things in life.

For example, a religious person might be reluctant to accept certain types of medication due to their religious beliefs. I once treated a patient who was a religious extremist and did not drugs could be helpful.

He only thought only God could heal him. Such extremist beliefs and views are integrated from a young age as a person grows up. It’s always difficult to change the views and beliefs of a person.

When it comes to beliefs, they are always not verified or scientifically proven. Knowledge is an understanding of things proven to be true, but beliefs are always subjective ideas.

Every person is unique due to the influence of their culture and family interactions. This uniqueness translates to a significant influence on social disclosures and contributions to interpersonal engagements.”

Overall, I feel that knowledge is more of verifiable information backed by logic or meaning. Beliefs are knowledge that can not be verified but has people strongly absorbed in it, these usually hold significance in their lives. Opinions are just a person’s likes or dislikes, these are very versatile and subjective, constantly changing as well.

Guest Author: Saket Kumar

Last Updated on May 21, 2024 by Pragya

Authors

Anushree Khandelwal
Pragya
  1. The difference between the three are very well defined. Generally people get confused among these three as they are unable to properly define them. But in this article everything including the examples are also well explained. I really loved the article!

  2. This article provides valuable insights into the nature of beliefs, emphasizing their strong connection to personal conviction. The analogy of beliefs being propositions adds depth, drawing a parallel to propositional knowledge. The example of celebrating festivals, like Dusshera, highlights how beliefs can shape cultural practices, even though the truth may not be objectively verifiable. The distinction between belief, knowledge, and opinion is clearly outlined, making it an informative read for understanding the subjective and contextual aspects of our convictions.

  3. Topic you have selected is great. Knowledge is the most powerful weapon in these days. Knowledge is the core of belief and opinion. But belief and opinion also goes side by side. Really impressive article.

    k

  4. The article adeptly dissects the nuanced differences between knowledge, belief, and opinion. It succinctly defines knowledge as information rooted in logic and evidence, extending to experiential and propositional realms. Belief, portrayed as a subjective acceptance often devoid of empirical support, is effectively linked to certitude and conviction. Opinion, the most subjective of the trio, is presented as a reflection of individual values and preferences with a notable impact on decision-making. The final thoughts provide a concise yet comprehensive summary, encapsulating the essence of these concepts and their contextual variations.

  5. I think figuring out the difference between knowing things, believing in them, and having opinions is really interesting. It’s important to understand these ideas clearly and stay open to different views. Learning more about this helps us see things from different angles and talk about them better. Great job to the writer for explaining this important part of talking and thinking.

  6. Very well explanation about knowledge , belief and opinion all these three are different than each other and the points which explains about all the three are very justifying in nature . Like about knowledge it should backed up with the logical terms and opinion is nothing but your perspective belief which don’t have any logical reasoning it just a strong emotion well explanation in the article .

  7. Very well explanation about knowledge , belief and opinion all these three are different than each other and the points which explains about all the three are very justifying in nature . Like about knowledge it should backed up with the logical terms and opinion is nothing but your perspective belief which don’t have any logical reasoning it just a strong emotion well explanation in the article .

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