7. Knowledge: Epistemology
Different Kinds of knowledge
Propositional Knowledge (by description)
Propositional Knowledge (knowing that . . .) vs. knowing
how. . .
Knowledge by Acquaintance (what we have of other people,
of places, of food)
Knowledge at different levels
Is all knowledge equally useful?
Does it matter if you have knowledge or not? All things being
equal, would you rather know or not know?
8. Essential Questions
How do you know what you know?
Does it matter if what you believe is true?
How can we best define truth and reality?
9. Knowing . . . .
Knowledge as a map
Epistemology: study of knowledge
Rationalism: use of logic , reason
Empiricism: use of the senses to obtain
information, knowledge
10. Theories of Truth
A) Coherence
1. Aim of thinking is to understand--we build a
bridge from what we already know
2. We use this test all the time; a new claim is
checked against beliefs we we already hold;
is it plausible? Does is make sense to me?
3. A proposition is true if it fits with your overall
set of beliefs --if it logically coheres
11. Theories of Truth
B) Pragmatism
1. Truth is “that which works” and
“that which we create,” what is
expedient, useful, not static
2. Scientific Realism vs. Scientific
Anti-Realism
3. Anti-Realism: hypotheses &
explanations don’t have to be
true, they just have to work with
what’s observed
12. Copernicus 1543
• Proposed the heliocentric model of solar system to
replace the Greek (Ptolemaic view)—offered his proposal
as a modest hypothesis that might do a better job of
“saving the phenomena” or accounting for observations
(in this case, the retrograde motion of the planets)
• No big uproar from Church or society
13. Galileo Galilei
• When Galileo built his telescope in
1609 and in 1610 viewed Jupiter’s
moons, he championed Copernicus’
view as true & revelation of truth like
scripture
14.
15. Theories of Truth
B) Correspondence
1.Truth must correspond
with what is observed;
what is verified by senses
or by reason: GO &
CHECK!
2.Claims have to match
with reality
3.For Science, our theories
must tell a true story about
nature
16.
17. Allegory of the Cave
Which concept of truth do you use the most?
Read, listen, reflect
How does this link to Truman Show?
21. Writing Exercise
Choose 1 of the following quotes on the next slide.
Respond to the quote by clarifying what you think it means,
whether or not you agree and why/why not. In your response,
use examples to illustrate (specific ones) your ideas. Offer at
least 1 counterclaim or alternate consideration to your ideas.
In other words, show some balance.
Consider the following, if applicable:
Is the quote about definitions of terms or ideas? Language?
Are there assumptions made in the quote? If so, what are they?
What challenges or questions of knowledge is the quote illustrating
about this concept we call “truth”?
22. Thinking about Ideas
True & false are attributes of speech, not of things. And where
speech is not there is neither Truth nor Falsehood. –Thomas
Hobbes-
In saying that everyone believes what is true, he is conceding
the truth of beliefs which oppose his own; in other words, he is
conceding the truth of the opinion that he is wrong. -Socrates-
There is absolutely no criterion for truth. For reason, senses,
ideas, or whatever else may exist are all deceptive.
–Carneades-
I have never had any doubts about truth, because it seems a
notion so transcendentally clear that nobody can be ignorant
of it. –R. Descartes-
23. Is truth relative?
Plato argued that truth is: public,
independent, and eternal]
There are no facts, only interpretations
(Nietsche)
We are embodied learners
Man is the measure of all things: of things
which are, that they are, and of things which
are not, that they are not (Protagoras)
Editor's Notes
Personal & Private
Maybe the basic starting point of all knowledge
Maybe limited in the extent to which it can be shared/communicated
(Visit to a nature, watching a play, attending a concert, etc)
Both private & public (I swim, but not like Olympic competitors)
Demonstration, learning, teaching, skills can be observed & learned
Maybe be theoretical but still has to be applied (e.g. critical thinking
In these images—my visit to a house in Watamu and my son learning to play tennis
Public
Assertions, claims
Questioned, supported, refuted, etc.
The total cost of construction of the ISS is around $150 billion. LHC cost 10 billion
How do we establish the truth of these claims I just showed you?
Is anything real? (short video clip?) Brains-in-a-vat scenario
Challenging, though, to think about how big your system of beliefs have to be to fit in all observations
Problems w/ theory: a statement can be useful but not true and vice versa (If you grew up in Nazi Germany, useful to believe Jews are vermin, but is it true?)
True but not useful: mathematical principles
Implies 2 contradictory beliefs can be true (e.g. Jesus is only way to heaven/truth so is Buddha) We use it all the time:
Big Uproar from the church
Realists see scientific inquiry as discovery whereas anti-realists see it as invention (we’ll return to this idea with math)
This is what MOST of us mean when we ask “Is that true?” or we claim “that isn’t true”
What is this cartoon getting at?
Allegory-story/poem with hidden meaning, literary device with extended metaphor, illustrating complex ideas in simple ways or abstract meaning through concrete representations
Short Video Clip: Is Anything Real ? By V Sauce 10 min
Carneades was a greek skeptic born in Cyrene; moved to Athens to head the academy founded by plato
Protagoras-pre-socratic philosopher, labeled as a sophist by Socrates (sophist was Greek teacher, from sofia-wise/wisdom, who taught students for money, taught rhetoric and philosophy)
