Without Knowledge, There is No Action

Here, the issue is whether knowledge is completely independent of the duties of the several stages of life or is somehow dependent ... Of course, knowledge is dependent on all the duties of the various stages of life, it is not completely independent ... Once it has emerged, [however] knowledge does not depend on anything else for the attainment of its fruit. But it is so dependent for its emergence ... Authoritative [though not sacred] texts too say this; for instance, ‘Action burns up impurities while (valid) cognition is the supreme goal. When action has burnt up impurities, (valid) cognition emerges.’30 

There is a quote from Fredrick Douglas that says "There is no progress without struggle." While this may seem unrelated, I translated it for the purpose of the blog to "without knowledge, there is no action." In our readings yesterday, we discussed Ram Prasad's Knowledge and Action. Within these readings, the correlation between the two are debated amongst the Kumārila and Śaṅkara traditions. While I will not be discussing these traditions in detail for this writing, I really would like to highlight the concept of this battle. 

As I was thinking of what exactly to write, I found myself continuously erasing and typing and erasing again. How do I discuss this epic battle? Is there a winner? I know these questions may seem silly when read out of context, but when I consider how these two sects look at these important virtues as a mean for living (for lack of better words) I don't understand how one could be more important than the other. In my own personal opinion I feel as if they are necessary for the other. Knowledge is... well I don't even know how to define it. I know it is a source of power and all but I can't even describe what I think it is. As far as action, I do believe that action cannot take place without knowledge, but at the same time knowledge cannot really happen without action.  Rereading this I find myself all over the place, but I guess this is the part of readers block or something along those lines.