“知之为知之，不知为不知，是知也。” explained!
Today, with our smartphones, we are constantly facing a paradox: while swimming in the ocean of information, it is becoming increasingly hard for us to trust any of it. Our smartphones make us omniscient with AI feeding us instant answers to any questions we ask, yet we get less and less clarity. Although we broadcast endless opinions, we are losing sight of the truth.
In our modern world, it is clear that the true wisdom is no longer focused on “how much we know”, something AI has an unlimited supply. Instead, it is whether or not we can draw a clear line between “what we know” from “what we don’t know”.
This is the reason that we are introducing Confucius’s ancient yet timeless maxim about wisdom: 知之为知之，不知为不知，是知也。“To know what we know and what we don’t know—that itself is wisdom.”
是知也
That itself is wisdom.
This 知 (zhì) is read differently from the previous four 知 (zhī). And the meanings are also different.
The first four 知 (zhī) means “to know”, while the last 知 (zhì) is used as “智”, meaning “wisdom”. This maxim tells us that wisdom is a “relationship”, not a “possession”.
When we “know” some knowledge, we “possess” it. However, it does not mean that we are wise. Wisdom is the “relationship” between knowledge and we, and whether or not this relationship is clear, honest and with boundary.
It is to know what we know.
Compared to “Know thyself”
“Know thyself” is a familiar ancient maxim from Ancient Greece, also focused on “know”, calling for self-awareness, and encouraging the understanding of one’s desire, motivation and so on.
Unfortunately, the maxim has collapsed under the weight of the knowledge that the West has accumulated over a couple of hundred years, revealing that complete self-knowledge is unattainable.
Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis, argued that our mind harbours an unconscious realm—repressed desires, memories, and instincts—that shapes our behaviour beyond our awareness. Hidden drives, such as unresolved childhood conflicts, influence our actions in ways we can not fully access, rendering parts of ourselves forever unknown.
Friedrich Nietzsche, a 19th-century philosopher, described the self as a dynamic interplay of competing drives and perspectives, constantly reshaped by experiences and the will to power. This fluid, ever-changing process, making “know thyself” an impossible task.
Immanuel Kant argued that we can not fully know our moral motives. While we strive to act according to rational principles, our true intentions—whether purely moral or swayed by self-interest—remain obscured by the limits of human cognition. Kant’s distinction between the knowable phenomenal self and the unknowable noumenal self suggests that our deepest essence eludes us.
Thus, we can never fully know ourselves. This makes Confucius’s teaching more practical and realistic. It encourages us to focus on the boundaries of our knowledge—acknowledging what we know and what we don’t—rather than chasing an elusive understanding of the self.
不知为不知
“Acknowledging what you don’t know as unknown” is the rarest ability today. We need this ability to resist “knowledge vanity”.
It is easier than ever for us to believe that we know something that we actually have very little idea about. For instance, we read some social media posts, listen to some experts’ analysis, watch some YouTube clips, or get some AI generated answers about a certain topic, and we believe that we have learned it all.
Unfortunately, this “vanity” of knowing only makes us repeat other people’s talking points. And our “knowledge vanity” can be taken advantage of by algorithms or by people who want to sway our opinions. They give us a simple answer, satisfying our desire to “know”, and make us give up our ability to think.
Therefore, being honest with “not knowing” is the first step to resist this manipulation.
Practice 是知也
Although it is in scarce supply, this wisdom is not out of reach. It all depends on our personal effort.
When we are encountering a categorical opinion with one hundred percent confidence and authority, we don’t question whether or not it is right or wrong. Instead, we ask ourselves “where is the boundary of this claim?” “Under what circumstances is this claim true?”
For example, take a look at the statement, “A total fertility rate of approximately 2.1 children per woman is considered the replacement level to maintain a stable population.”
I have seen this statement being repeated with some variations and under different contexts countless times, as if it is a universal truth that can be applied to every corner of the Earth. If we ask “Under what circumstances does this claim hold true?”, we will be forced to take into account of different cultural practices, medical services, biological and geographical conditions, technology development, and to reach a better understanding. The result is that we will not be scared or be manipulated by a different number other than 2.1.
However, it is not easy to constantly ask questions, even though asking questions helps us. Deep down, we all want to trust others. After all, we are all social animals. Without trusting one another, we could not have survived this long.
Conclusion
This maxim is a gift from Confucius to mankind, teaching us that wisdom begins with being honest with ourselves. Those who can face their limitations are the ones who can truly open up to learning, and will not be easily manipulated by others or fads.
Also, knowing what we know and what we don’t know is a human trait. It is something AI can not do. Even when a super intelligent AI is invented in the future, possessing all the knowledge that humans have discovered and more, its knowledge is still within boundaries.
It is we human who must define these boundaries, admit limitations, and ask questions. This might enable us to be able to harness the power AI, without losing ourselves.
Dive Deeper
This article is part of an e-course, The Self: 5 Lessons from Confucius for Cultivating Inner Peace in a Noisy World, which uses quotes from The Analects to help us anchor and develop ourselves in the fluctuating digital world.
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