From the preceding overview of the cognitive process, we can infer that acquisition of knowledge requires experience, time, and an autonomous thought process. Because humans act based on their knowledge, the presence or absence of these factors strongly affect human actions and their consequences for human life. Let us examine these three factors more closely.

We require experience—that is, continuing feedback from reality—in order to "zero in" on precise answers, regardless of whether we are solving a problem in physics, in engineering, in medicine, or in the determination of the optimal use of economic goods. The scientific method, for example, requires that results be verifiable by means of repeatable experiments, because such experiments represent data from reality and not merely the subjective opinions of previous observers. Often, of course, it may be impractical to verify an event by personal observation—for example, in the case of one-time events. We may then have to depend on the testimony of others, such as the witnesses in a trial. Although such testimony can be a legitimate source of knowledge, it is only valid insofar as we have grounds to regard the witnesses themselves as credible.     

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