τέχνη (Techne): The term is often translated as craftsmanship, craft, or art. It is the rational method involved in producing an object or accomplishing a goal or objective. (From Wikipedia.org)
When someone wants to build something, lets say a chair, one has to apply some sort of methodology to, given the materials one starts with, end up with a result that matches what was desired. One could argue that if one learns this method and applies it, one has knowledge of 'how to build a chair'. However, if one follows the supposed insights of Plato's epistemology, one only achieves true knowledge (will save this Greek word for another post) of something if this knowledge implies a sort of necessity. Therefore, seeing as how there are many ways to build a chair, the methodology one applies in the domain of chair building has a degree of contingency and can only be considered a sort of 'know how';something existing in the realm of mere belief. If one in contrast contemplates the form of 'chair' for its own sake, and determines the necessary and sufficient conditions of such a form, then one can achieve knowledge of chairs.
The distinction between knowledge that breeds wisdom and techne is made clear after Socrates hears from the Oracle that he is 'the wisest', he attempts to disprove this by finding someone that is wiser. When he visits the poets (the Ion) he finds that they operate mostly through some sort of 'genius' (divine inspiration) and know nothing of what they say. He also finds that craftsmen do not possess knowledge, as all they have is sets of skills. One must embark on the philosophical path if one desires to achieve knowledge as such.
