ABSTRACT
The place to start any search about understanding is in the general knowledge of the public. This is important for the study of learning not only because it is the foundation on which education has to build but because it will continue to flow strongly in daily conversations throughout life. Scientist or layman, expert or novice, we are united by our general knowledge. But before it is possible to think about the contents of general knowledge concerning energy-the topics, meanings, vague concepts and vaguer theories-there is a need to explore, if only in outline, the nature of general knowledge itself. Here, right at the beginning of the subject, is quite the toughest task of all. We have to find an answer to the question-is what we all know, or think we know-without ever having learnt it-a system of knowing at all?
