Knowing. Understanding.

"How do you know so much? You seem to understand."

"I've lived."

"Yes, I suppose that's it."

Funny conversation to have at a time when I'm doing a paper/course in Epistemology; Ways of Knowing. How do we know things? Could I begin to explain what I know so you could know it too? No. You'd have to know by experience, as I do.

I'm not talking only about facts, observable truth acceptable to diehard rationalists. I'm talking about a deeper level of knowing than factual, empirical and explainable.

The above conversation took place while one of us was in a hospital bed and one was seated on a chair.

Does the context change how you read that conversation?
Does it change your understanding of the knowing I'm talking about?

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