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182 Adaptation

through a situation tree is to describe it in the context of the ensemble of pos-
sible behaviors (by that particular person, in the given situation). The situa-
tion tree is analogous to the solution space in the theory of analytical thinking
proposed in Chapter 4, but the moves from one state (situation) to another are
actions rather than mental operations or inferences.

practical Knowledge
As chemists distinguish between organic and inorganic chemical com-
pounds, so cognitive scientists have settled on a broad distinction between
declarative and practical knowledge. Declarative knowledge is knowledge
about the way the world is. Practical knowledge, on the other hand, is knowl-
edge about what to do.
The distinction was originally stated in terms of declarative and procedural
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knowledge. However, the term “procedural knowledge” is unfortunate, because
it is too easily misunderstood as referring to knowledge of more or less explicit,
codified or fixed procedures, which is not the intended concept. As used in this
book, the term “practical knowledge” refers to knowledge about how to perform
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tasks, reach goals or produce desired consequences and effects. This usage has
natural links to the verb to practice, the logician’s concept of practical logic, the
anthropologist’s notion of a cultural practice and the common distinction theory
versus practice, all of which are relevant for the topic of skill acquisition.
declarative knowledge and practical knowledge differ in multiple inter-
locking ways. The units of declarative knowledge are variously called asser-
tions, propositions or statements. The Earth is round is a prototypical example.
Assertions are typically thought of as either true or false, although these con-
cepts have caused more trouble for philosophers than common sense would
anticipate. two millennia of debate aside, it makes sense to ask about a declar-
ative statement whether it is accurate with respect to the part of reality that it
purports to describe. practical knowledge, on the other hand, is neither true
nor false but more or less effective.
descriptions are neutral with respect to task and purpose. The assertion
that the Earth is round is not intrinsically related to any particular task, but it
might be useful in reasoning about a wide range of tasks. By itself, it does not
specify any particular action. if you are in Europe and your task is to get to
india, the knowledge that the Earth is round makes you wonder if it is better
to sail east or west, an issue that does not arise in the absence of this proposi-
tion, but it does not specify which way is best. if you like camels, take the path
of Marco polo; if you like fish, go the way of Christopher Columbus. if your