Knowledge, Wisdom, Understanding

[DISCLAIMER]

Defining Terms

When providing psychoeducational lessons on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), I find it useful to define terms. This is done in the interest of knowledge, wisdom, and understanding. In fact, these three terms are worth defining.

According to the American Psychological Association (APA), knowledge is defined as “the state of being familiar with something or aware of its existence, usually resulting from experience or study” or “the range of one’s understanding or information.”

In common parlance, knowledge is the circumstance or condition of apprehending truth or fact through reasoning. Perhaps a brief demonstration is in order regarding how I use knowledge when daily practicing REBT. For this example, consider use of a syllogism:

Form (modus ponens) –

If p, then q; p; therefore, q.

Example –

If you place your hand in fire, then you will almost certainly burn your hand. You place your hand in fire. Therefore, you will almost certainly burn your hand.

This syllogistic proposal is rational (in accordance with both logic and reason). Here, “logic” is the interrelation or sequence of facts or events when seen as inevitable or predictable, and “reason” is a statement offered in explanation or justification.

Given rational knowledge about how placing one’s hand in fire may result in a burn, an individual establishes wisdom. According to the APA, wisdom is defined as:

[T]he ability of an individual to make sound decisions, to find the right—or at least good—answers to difficult and important life questions, and to give advice about the complex problems of everyday life and interpersonal relationships.

The role of knowledge and life experience and the importance of applying knowledge toward a common good through balancing one’s own, others’, and institutional interests are two perspectives that have received significant psychological study.

In common parlance, wisdom is a wise (exercising or showing sound judgment) attitude, belief, or course of action. Given knowledge about hand-burning, one has wisdom not to place one’s hand in fire. Now, I turn to understanding. According to the APA, understanding is defined as:

1. the process of gaining insight about oneself or others or of comprehending the meaning or significance of something, such as a word, concept, argument, or event. See also apprehension; comprehension.

2. in counseling and psychotherapy, the process of discerning the connections between a client’s behavior and their environment, history, aptitudes, motivation, ideas, feelings, relationships, and modes of expression.

3. in some philosophical writings, the faculty of organizing and interpreting the information acquired from the senses, as opposed to the nous or higher reason. See also dianoia.

In common parlance, understanding is merely a mental grasp, or an agreement of opinion or feeling. Given knowledge about how fire can burn your hand, you can apply this wisdom to your life, and we both have understanding about what may occur if you ignore what it is you know.

Knowledge, Wisdom, and Understanding in Hip Hop

From birth until halfway through my fifth grade year, I lived in Amarillo, Texas with my mom. Although she didn’t necessarily favor the five subcultural elements of hip hop, my mom didn’t disallow me from engaging with rapping, DJing, breakdancing, graffiti, and beatboxing.

For instance, when in elementary school, I was allowed to watch the dance drama film Beat Street (1984). It was then that I recall having discovered lyricist Kool Moe Dee, as he became one of my lifelong favorite hip hop acts. About his contribution to the film, one source states:

As a member of the Treacherous Three, Kool Moe Dee also appeared in the film. The musical performance of Kool Moe Dee stands as one of the few media appearances he has ever made without his trademark sunglasses (a style he had not yet adopted at the time).

To me, Kool Moe Dee was an inspiration! Once he adopted his shades (sunglasses), he added a veil of mystery to his overall persona. Yet, that wasn’t all that drew me to the lyricist’s content. He spread awareness about what the Five-Percent Nation refers to as Supreme Mathematics:

1. Knowledge – foundation of all things in existence. To know the ledge so you won’t fall over the edge. Symbolic to the blackman, the sun, who is GOD.

2. Wisdom – the manifestation of knowledge, one’s way and actions. To wise the dome. Symbolic to the black woman, whom we refer to as moons or earths.

3. Understanding – the best part of life. To see clearly with the third eye. Our two physical eyes are but doorways to our third eye. Symbolic to the black male child, the star, who is ALLAH [arm, leg, leg, arm, head].

Although I was raised under the tenets of the Jehovah’s Witnesses by my dad, taken to a non-denominational church congregation that was evangelical in its theology by my mom, I still appreciated the Five-Percent Nation’s perspective. It’s also reverberated throughout hip hop.

Halfway through fifth grade, after moving to Aurora, Colorado to live with my dad, I got my hands on a cassette tape of Kool Moe Dee’s album Knowledge Is King (1989). On the track “Knowledge Is King”, the lyricist states:

I’m not goin’, I’m gone

Up, up, up and away, and I’m on

A higher plane with a brain with a flame

Feel the fire, desire the same

Knowledge and wisdom and understanding

Possessed by gods, transferred to man in

A script or a book, or a scripture that looks

Like a biblical writing, inviting a hook

Of a song, sing along with a strong subliminal

Message divesting all men from criminal

Acts of the Devil, revealed and reveled

Designed to decline the mind to lower level

Read the Holy Qur’an or the Bible

Because it’s liable to be your revival

For the weak that seek power it’ll bring

Infallible power, knowledge is king

Photo credit, fair use

That single verse from “Knowledge Is King” could body most rapper’s entire catalogs from at least 2010. Kool Moe Dee was so well-liked that even my dad – a former hippie who preferred music from Iron Butterfly, Peter Frampton, and others – appreciated the lyricist’s content.

By the time I moved back to Amarillo, this time being placed into the care of a children’s home, I was able to secure a copy of Kool Moe Dee’s album Funke, Funke Wisdom (1991). On the “Intro” of the anthology, the lyricist states:

Knowledge Is King

Knowledge elevated

Funke wisdom

Science sorcery

Truth

Truth: an ongoing investigation of information

Truth supersedes belief

Positive over negative

Knowledge, wisdom, understanding

Knowledge Is King

Wisdom: application of knowledge

Kool Moe Dee, Funke Funke Wisdom

I wasn’t simply hearing a lyricist’s music when listening to Kool Moe Dee; I was gaining knowledge, wisdom, and understanding about life! I owe him a debt of gratitude for teaching the seventh grade version of myself not to stop learning deeper lessons about the world. Respect.

There are so many other hip hop songs which reference knowledge, wisdom, and understanding since Kool Moe Dee opened my eyes to these concepts that I’ve lost count. Still, I think it’s worth highlighting two more songs by talented lyricists who’ve mentioned these terms.

On the album Then What Happened? (2008), by J-Live, is the track “The Understanding”. The lyrist discusses how hip hop artists helped shape his worldview, discussing the Five-Percent Nation in particular, as the chorus addresses “knowledge, wisdom, understanding.”

A couple years after that project, the album DJ Premier Presents Get Used To Us (2010) was released by the phenomenal talent of DJ and record producer DJ Premier. On it was the song “5%” which features lyricists KRS-One and Grand Puba, as lyrics from the track state:

[Verse 1: KRS-One] (Grand Puba)

I grew up in the streets, like everyone else

But instead of pushin’ drugs, I push knowledge of self

While them cats was in the back, smokin’ them moolies

I was buildin’ with the gods, who used to wear kufis

Africa pendants, with sevens on them

Real black man summit, y’all never saw ‘em

The cops caught ‘em, real leaders, real street preachers

Black Panthers style, Poor Righteous Teachers

This before the cell phones and the beepers

Conscious black men with fly new sneakers

Both styles came from us, guns bust

We were Criminal Minded but “In God We Trust”

Not that white man God, the other one

We didn’t call that God, we called our brother one

And our sister was the Earth, peace god

No need to act it (Now let me bless y’all with some jewels)

[Hook: KRS-One, (Grand Puba)]

Knowledge, wisdom, understanding, freedom

Justice, equality, (food), clothing

Shelter, love, peace, happiness

There are the jewels to life, let’s go

[x2]

Aside from Kool Moe Dee, I owe KRS-One (also known as “The Teacha”) a debt of gratitude for teaching children’s home-aged Deric invaluable lessons through my early adulthood. The knowledge, wisdom, and understanding that he bestowed upon me are irreplaceable! One.

Conclusion

When teaching people about REBT, I find it useful to define terms such as knowledge, wisdom, and understating. Herein, I’ve elaborated on each of these terms. As well, I’ve shared hip hop content that addresses these concepts.

Presuming you understand how each of these notions apply to your own life, I invite you to consider how pursuit of knowledge, maintenance of wisdom, and application of understanding can improve your own mental, emotional, and behavioral health (collectively “mental health”).

For instance, given knowledge about how fire can burn your hand, you can apply this wisdom to your life, as you have understanding about what may occur if you ignore what it is you know. This is true of the naturalistic or physical world.

Additionally, regarding one’s own psychological world or mental health, you now have knowledge about how information may shape your outlook, you can apply this wisdom to your life, and you can gain understanding about helpful REBT tools by reading more of my blogposts.

If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help you understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.

As the world’s foremost hip hop-influenced REBT psychotherapist, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.

At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!

Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW

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