Wissen

Wissen is a German noun meaning knowledge, the state or set of facts, information, skills, or understanding that a person has acquired through experience, study, or reasoning. It encompasses both theoretical understanding and practical know-how and can be personal or shared within a community.

The word Wissen derives from the German verb wissen, to know. It forms the basis of related terms such as Wissenserwerb (acquisition of knowledge) and Allgemeinwissen (general knowledge). In everyday language, Wissen is often contrasted with Daten or Information, where data becomes knowledge when it is understood and contextualized. It is also distinct from Kenntnis, which commonly refers to familiarity with a specific fact or skill rather than a broader, integrated understanding.

In philosophy and cognitive science, Wissen is central to the study of epistemology, the theory of knowledge. Classic analyses define knowledge as justified true belief, though this account is challenged by contemporary discussions and Gettier problems. In ordinary use, statements about Wissen frequently appear in expressions like Wissen ist Macht (knowledge is power) and Man muss Bescheid wissen (one should be in the know).

Wissen also refers to a place: Wissen is a municipality in the district of Altenkirchen, in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. The locality forms part of the regional fabric of the Westerwald and is associated with local history and community life.