What is the difference between knowing something in theory and practical knowledge?

Answer 1

Examples of the differences between theoretical and practical knowledge abound. As some examples:

• A person who has never parented a child can have personal theories about child care and raising a child. However, the practical side comes in when the person actually has a child, where often theory and experience do not match.
• Many professions require book learning, e.g. the information and theory side of the occupation, for example, medical and nursing students. But theories learned in the classroom can only become personal knowledge when applied through experiences in a clinical setting, such as a hospital.
• Many Senators and Representatives have very clear ideas about social policies, including their personal theories about the kinds and amounts of benefits that poor families receiving Medicaid (welfare) assistance need. However, when advocates challenge these government officials to live on the same amounts of benefits, few officials can do it and are in fact surprised at how much they underestimated the needs of poor families in the USA.
• Many ordinary people take CPR (Cardio-Pulmonary Rescuscitation) classes. They learn the A-B-C method of assessment, learn how to do rescue breathing, and how to perform chest compressions. They read instructions in books and listen to a lecturer. But, the Red Cross and other agencies that offer CPR Classes know that knowing theories or information only does not mean a person can effectively perform CPR. So part of the training is practical, hands-on training, which each "student" must do properly to earn a certificate. However, even with that training, many people find it is not as easy to do CPR in real life, when time is of the essence. Because of this fact, even professionals must complete a refresher course in CPR to have an opportunity to review theory plus re-do the actual practice of CPR-- the practical or experience side.