The learning process is dependent not only on experience, but also on time. Because knowledge is developed in a step-by-step, hierarchical manner (pp. 1.3:5-11), it does not come in one single flash of insight, but must be accumulated over time. Even insights associated with the so-called "aha" experience—such as Archimedes's legendary "eureka" realization—must subsequently be verified by careful reexamination of the evidence and retracing of one's conclusions.

The acquisition of knowledge is also time-dependent in another sense: it is an ongoing process that must not cease if one's knowledge is to remain valid. Because authentic knowledge must be a full integration of our experience, it needs to be updated as new data becomes available; in other words, it is neither closed nor static. (The contextuality of knowledge will be explored further in the subsection on "Theory and Practice.") In order for knowledge to be correct, it must remain constantly correctable through new experience.