Knowledge is nothing more than the systematic

Muhamad Fauzi, Siti Mardhiah

organization of facts,
000592-0291
discuss the statement in relation to two area of knowledge.
__________________________________________________________________________________

Knowledge, an abstract idea that everyone strive to gain more of in trying to make
sense of the world, surrounding and everything going on around us. For something to be
accepted as knowledge, it must be able to be justified. Hence, knowledge is often associated
with Platos Justified True Belief, where ones belief must be able to be justified through
some means to enable it to be accepted as truth. Often, knowledge that we receive is
something that we can understand since it is organized in a systematic way, the facts are
coherently related to arrive to a new conclusion, which leads to new knowledge being
obtained. From here, we can see that coherent truth is largely involved in gaining knowledge
as facts and previous knowledge are arranged to arrive to a new conclusion, a new
knowledge. Plus, the systematic organization gives shape and form to the knowledge that we
know, so that we are able to describe and explain the knowledge. After all, the best
explanation is the most systematic explanation. The systematic organization of facts can be
said is involved in the methodology in gaining new knowledge. It is a form of justification as
it makes the knowledge explainable, understandable and ultimately makes sense. On the
matter of facts, it is usually a statement that is backed up by evidence, which means if
something corresponded with our observation numerous times, then it is said to be a fact. The
systematic organization of facts can be seen in the areas of knowledge history and
mathematics. History attempts to link evidences and facts from the past to gain new
knowledge regarding the past. History in itself is a study about the past, in hoping to learn
something about human behaviour that would makes us not repeat the same mistake again.
Mathematics, on the other hand, is an area of knowledge where the knowledge obtained must
undergo a rigorous process before it can be accepted as knowledge. But does it stop just
there? Or is there something else involved? Hence I would like to ask to what extent does
knowledge in the areas of history and mathematics is produced only from the systematic

Knowledge is nothing more than the systematic

Muhamad Fauzi, Siti Mardhiah
organization of facts,
000592-0291
discuss the statement in relation to two area of knowledge.
__________________________________________________________________________________

organization of facts? In this essay I am going to see where is the aspect of systematic
organization of facts involved in both mathematics and history, and then I am going to
discuss whether it stops there, or is there more involved in the process.
A theory or conclusion is reached upon from a series of steps that flows from one to
the other; logical in its process. If the steps are coherent and drawn systematically, then the
conclusion reached is accepted as true. For example, mathematics or specifically algebra that
we learn at school usually reaches the answer after calculating the problem in a very orderly
manner. There are even questions asking to show steps that prove how the answer is arrived
upon. And that conclusion is accepted as knowledge, as it is able to be justified through the
steps, which are rigid and logical in nature. Hence we can say that knowledge in mathematics
is produced from the systematic organization of facts. Knowledge in mathematics largely
depends on logic and reasoning to make it coherent and justified along the way. There is a
clear line that shows the difference between something being accepted as knowledge or not.
For the rigorous, rigid method that is involved in mathematics allows no room for doubts,
opinions, something subjective and nothing less of a fact or an axiom. It must cohere with the
fact or facts beforehand. That is why the knowledge that is obtained in mathematics comes
with certainty and validity that no one usually questions it.
Even though mathematics is largely dependent on logic and reasoning to arrive to new
findings, new discoveries are sometimes made through intuition. The great French
mathematician Henri Poincare once stated that he arrived on new discoveries with immediate
certainty, often known as an eureka moment. It is the high point of creative process in
mathematics, where a sudden, immediate clarity comes along that links all the previously
disconnected data, as if the solution had just presented itself to the mathematician in a flash
(Byers, 2007, p. 329). Not only that, the mathematician is also absolutely certain that this
2

Knowledge is nothing more than the systematic

Muhamad Fauzi, Siti Mardhiah
organization of facts,
000592-0291
discuss the statement in relation to two area of knowledge.
__________________________________________________________________________________

solution sprung from ones mind is the correct one. It is seen here that intuition also plays a
role in the production of new knowledge in mathematics, where sometimes logic, reasoning
and systematically organizing a set of facts is not enough; for there is still that missing link.
And no matter how they try to manipulate these facts it still seems disconnected, incoherent,
not aesthetical. Hence intuition comes along, turning on the lights and everything now
seems to fit together. Might there be questions regarding intuition on the objectivity of
knowledge that comes from it, the intuition of the mathematician is one who has extensive
background knowledge in mathematics that he or she has a valid basis for the intuition and
immediate certainty that comes along. In the end, knowledge in mathematics does come from
the systematic organization of facts but there are also other things involved, intuition and
immediate certainty or the eureka moment also plays a role in coming out with new
knowledge.
History attempts to create a narration, which must be systematic and orderly to be
one. There must be coherency and a smooth flow to the narration, or else it would all just be a
jumble of facts. Facts are reliable piece of information backed up by evidence. The
systematic organization of facts in history is in the sense effective, which in other words
means that people can learn from it and it is understandable. For example, in history there is a
theory called periodization where facts or occurrences occurring in this period of time are
grouped together producing a-sort-of timeline. The good side of this periodization is that
there is a timeline where we can see what event happened when in an orderly manner and
there is a smooth flow of events which occurred during the same time period.
Moreover, with the rapid advancement of technology, more and more facts and
evidences are being found. With these new findings, more linking and connecting can be
done to reach new conclusions and new knowledge. This mean that less guessing or
3

Knowledge is nothing more than the systematic

Muhamad Fauzi, Siti Mardhiah
organization of facts,
000592-0291
discuss the statement in relation to two area of knowledge.
__________________________________________________________________________________

imagining occurs in trying to connect the dots, as facts and evidences are used instead. Tan
Sri Khoo Kay Kim, the highly-credited Malaysian historian insisted that writings that are
inserted with dates are the only writings that can be accepted as proofs. Anything less is
considered as myths and urban legends. That is why history is always being re-written,
reinterpreted which gives a different perspective. Thus it can be said that knowledge in
history is systematically organized by the historian, who constantly discover new facts,
separating ones that are from merely tales; as facts would give way to objectivity and it being
organized and new knowledge being reached.
In spite of this, history is also the process of linking facts together. The interpretation
of the facts is done not just so that there is a smooth coherent flow, but also so that there will
be a meaningful interpretation from it. One that people or the majority could learn and reflect
from. Hence, selectivity of facts occurs in the process to give significance and value to the
knowledge in history. In the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games, Adolf Hitler planned to showcase
his regime and the superiority of the Aryan race. But all this was undermined by the excellent
performance of Jesse Owens, an African American athlete from the United States, winning
four gold medals. Hitler was so infuriated that he even refused to shake hands with the star
which is how the event is often portrayed. However, it was actually Olympic rules then that
the head of state - Hitler - was not permitted to shake hands of winning athletes. Owens even
said that he had been treated well during his stay in Germany1. We can see pragmatism being
used here by the authorities as to show a certain interpretation of what happened. Hence, it
can be deduced that knowledge in history does involve systematic organization of facts,
which is coherent in nature. However, there is also pragmatism involved, where selectivity of
1

Russ. (29 December, 2013). Hitler Did Not Snub Jesse Owens in 1936 Olympics. Retrieved from Rense.com:
http://rense.com/general39/owens.htm

Knowledge is nothing more than the systematic

Muhamad Fauzi, Siti Mardhiah
organization of facts,
000592-0291
discuss the statement in relation to two area of knowledge.
__________________________________________________________________________________

facts occurs in the production of knowledge in history by the authorities to portray their
stand, value and interpretation of the past.
In conclusion, the pursuit of knowledge is something paramount to mankind as it is
associated with truth. We assume that as we know more, the closer we are to the truth. And
this is a significant matter as it involves our survival capacity, in trying to survive this
mysterious and unpredictable world; it helps to know, to be certain of things. And the process
that is involved in the obtaining of knowledge is crucial so that we know the nature of
knowledge produced. Therefore we can deduce in the areas of history and mathematics,
systematic organization of facts does play a role in producing knowledge in these fields - a
major role - in producing reliable, valid knowledge. However, there are still other influences
and factors that are involved that make it more than just a systematic organization. This
means that the knowledge produced is not fully objective, thus leaving room for
improvement, and maybe new knowledge in the future.

Knowledge is nothing more than the systematic

Muhamad Fauzi, Siti Mardhiah
organization of facts,
000592-0291
discuss the statement in relation to two area of knowledge.
__________________________________________________________________________________

Reference:

Byers, W. (2007). How Mathematicians Think: Using Ambiguity, Contradiction, and

Paradox to Create Mathematics. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press.

Russ. (29 December, 2013). Hitler Did Not Snub Jesse Owens in 1936 Olympics.
Retrieved from Rense.com: http://rense.com/general39/owens.htm

What Are the Logical Fallacies of History? (28 December, 2013). Retrieved from
theoryofknowledge.net: http://www.theoryofknowledge.net/areas-ofknowledge/history/what-are-the-logical-fallacies-of-history/