Why Not Knowing Is the First Step to Mastery
When it comes to learning something new, especially in tech, it's not just about gaining knowledge. It's also about understanding what we don’t know. That’s where the Five Orders of Ignorance and the Levels of Knowledge come in. These two ideas help us reflect on where we are and how to grow.
🚧 The Five Orders of Ignorance
Originally described by Philip Armour, the Five Orders of Ignorance show us that ignorance isn’t just “not knowing”, it has levels.
✅ 0th Order: We Know It
You understand something and can use it confidently.
Example: You know how to use a Java loop or build a REST API.
❓ 1st Order: We Know What We Don’t Know
You’re aware of a gap in your knowledge.
Example: “I know I need to learn how Java Streams work.”
❌ 2nd Order: We Don’t Know What We Don’t Know
You’re unaware that something is missing, which can lead to mistakes.
Example: You assume your app is secure, but you’ve never studied security.
💡 3rd Order: We Don’t Know How to Learn It
You don’t even know how to start learning. You may feel stuck.
Example: You’ve heard of reactive programming, but don’t know what it means or where to begin.
🔁 4th Order: We Don’t Have a Way to Discover What We Don’t Know
At this level, teams or individuals lack processes for learning.
Example: A company that doesn’t do reviews, feedback, or experimentation may never discover blind spots.
📚 The Levels of Knowledge
These often go hand-in-hand with the orders of ignorance:
Awareness – You've heard of it, but don't know what it is.
Understanding – You know the basics and can explain it simply.
Skill – You can use it in practice.
Mastery – You can teach it and apply it in different situations.
Final Thoughts
Knowing where you are in your learning journey helps you grow faster and smarter. It’s okay to not know something, but it’s powerful to realize what you don’t know and take steps to learn it.
Whether you’re a beginner or a senior developer, reflecting on your ignorance is not a weakness, it’s the first step to mastery. Stay curious, ask questions, seek feedback, and never stop learning. 🙌
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References
Take Five - A countdown of what's essential in software development - Kevlin Henney | Codecamp 2022