Chapter 1
Introduction to Knowledge
think of as knowledge?
When we know something
how do we know it is even
really true?
It helps us examine our lives
and helps us be critical of
knowledge claims which are
not actually knowledge but
instead only belief, opinion,
propaganda, and even deceit
Lesson One
What do we know?
Knowledge Claims are claims
Consider History
Historical artefacts are
Is this view of
prevalent
and common
human sacrifice
among the
Aztecs
truly warranted?
in an hour?
How many seconds
in a day?
How long is one
million seconds?
How long is one
billion seconds?
32 years a long time
ourselves?
How does science answer
the questions about the
origin of the universe?
What came before the big
bang?
How can science ever
hope to give us the
answers?
Reality?
How do we know?
Why is our reality more real than realities of
P must be true.
I believe P
I have sound reasons for believing
P. I need a type of justification
I have no evidence that negates or
erodes my belief in P
Perception
A sound reason for
Vase or Faces?
Self-Awareness
How do you know we like
whatever we like?
Self awareness is such an
inherent part of our
everyday lives
This knowledge requires
no proof or any other form
of empirical backing
It is very strong subjective
knowledge
Deduction
This is one of the
Is this deduction?
Does he/she have knowledge?
Induction
induction is another
Authority
Very much of the knowledge
Consensus
Consensus or Consensus
moral values
Scientific discoveries
Historical claims
Mathematical proof
Political ideology
Intuition
Intuition is a feeling, an
inherent understanding.
Intuition makes us know
about something internal; a
way of thinking or
perceiving something
Even if the intuition is not
reflective of reality, it is still
knowledge for the individual
on the individual level
Seeing Red
Michele Benzamin-Miki
Revelation
Easily argued that
Can be knowledge on a
subjective level.
Faith
We should avoid
Lesson 3
Certainty, a Foundation for
Knowledge or an Outcome of
it?
Foundationalism
Pragmatism
Two contrasting ideas for what
knowledge is based upon
Foundationalism
The concept of foundationalism states that
something is knowledge if and only if we
are 100% certain of it
Knowledge comes when on reaches this
subjective state of mind
Knowledge=Truth, but TruthKnowledge
Knowledge comes when one can not
possibly imagine that he is incorrect
Certainty is the basis, or forundation of
knowledge
Foundationalism (contd.)
Foundatonal knowledge claims are generally
Pragmatism
The perspective of pragmatism
Pragmatism (contd.)
Scientific knowledge is pragmatic knowledge. If a
Lesson 4
Is Truth and Reality Subjective?
Subjectivism vs.
Representationalism
The subjectivist believes there is no true
reality. Any so-called reality that there
is, is based upon peoples experiences
The representationalistsargue that here
is a reality; all we have to do is open our
eyes to see it. If something is true it is
true because corresponds with the
reality around us.
Subjectivism
Something is true is if it
relates to someones
experience in a way that they
can understand and relate to
it
Memories buy weightless
kilograms of ideas. Is this
statement a reality? It is not a
reality because no one can
relate to it
Reality is subjective because
it depends on ones ability to
relate to something
Representationalism
A representation is
perspective
Reality is a subjective experience because
we are limited and confined to our own
human way of seeing things
Like a person that has never left a cave
and can therefore never know any other
reality, so too are people. They see things
from the perspective of their own cave
Meditations on First
Philosophy
cogito ergo sum I think
therefore I am
Scepticism
Nothing can be known
except ones own
existence
There is no way to know if
there is a reality
We can not escape our
subjective outlook on life
to know anything away
from ourselves or the way
we know things
Lesson 5
What they will have to do
One essay 1200-1600 words on one of ten
prescribed topics
Never change any aspect of the topic.
But, if you want a good essay prepare to write a
1600 word essay. 33% more can be said in a 1600
word essay than can be in a 1200 word essay.
The essay is 70% of the final grade. The essay is
graded externally
One Presentation.
About 10 minutes long. Graded by the teacher.
On a contemporary isssue
The presentation is 30% of the grade