Do you think the terms 'information'& 'knowledge' are synonyms or are there good reasons todifferentiate them?

Question

How would you usefully differentiate them if you had to?

American Heritage Dictionary definition for:
in·for·ma·tion (ĭn'fər-mā'shən)
n.
Knowledge derived from study, experience, or instruction.
Knowledge of specific events or situations that has been gathered or received by communication; intelligence or news. See synonyms at knowledge.
A collection of facts or data: statistical information.
The act of informing or the condition of being informed; communication of knowledge: Safety instructions are provided for the information of our passengers.
Computer Science. Processed, stored, or transmitted data.
A numerical measure of the uncertainty of an experimental outcome.
knowl·edge (nŏl'ĭj)
n.
The state or fact of knowing.
Familiarity, awareness, or understanding gained through experience or study.
The sum or range of what has been perceived, discovered, or learned.
Learning; erudition: teachers of great knowledge.
Specific information about something.
Carnal knowledge.
see http://www.answers.com/topic/knowledge

Answer 1

Information is just data - nothing more.

Knowlege is what we gain from using information to solve problems or gain wisdom.

Answer 2

In my opinion, they're quite different:

Information is merely facts and statistics that are not necessarily true, waiting to be called upon for research or other things like that.
Knowledge, on the other hand, is the things that are known within a mind. It is something that can possibly be biased, and is acquired throughout a person's life.

Answer 3

Information is knowledge gained through study, communication, research, or instruction. It is data and fact.

Knowledge is a body of truths or facts accumulated in the course of time. It is also an awareness, as of a fact or circumstance.

You would never say, "You're so informational," but you would say "you're so knowledgeable."

Answer 4

I think of information as pieces that make up knowledge. Like, today's temperature is a piece of information. This gives you no knowledge about global warming, or if this temperature is the norm for this date, or much of anything else. You only know what number is on the thermometer. You need to synthesize the information to gain knowledge.

Answer 5

The are not synonyms.

Information is data.
Knowledge is data that has been perceived and is known, whether by study or experience. Knowledge is always, in a sense, experiential. However, it is completely possible for there to be information that is not known.

Answer 6

No I do not think these two words are synonymous. You need one (Information) to get the other (Knowledge). A person can be well 'informed', but in my opinion does not necessarily make them knowledgeable. Knowledge comes not only from information (e.g. school), but also from experiences.

Answer 7

No, they are not synonyms. To my thinking, information is data. Knowledge is information that is assimilated into the brain. I think this is Philosophy 101. My husband agrees with me. He has a degree in Philosophy.

Answer 8

knowledge is the culmination of the absorption of much information over a longer period of time.

information is on an as per basis. each time a new piece of information is need, it is sought and acquired, which in turn contributes to the compendium of knowledge a person possesses

Answer 9

No certainly not synonyms.
Information can be gatherer or just stored in book or brain. One may understand or may not. But one thing is sure he is not using it.

The person who can use right information in right time to achieve right result do have knowledge.

Answer 10

The information I obtain is through my one of my five senses, but common sense imparts knowledge because I have actually understood the information I have learned.