Epistemology

[Belisarius]

Epistemology is the study of the nature of knowledge, how it is defined and attained, and what can be classified as knowledge. Religious faith, scientific evidence, and direct experience have be cited as justifications for knowledge. Knoledge is generally defined as justified true belief(although I would take issue with that definition). Discuss.

[will.i.am]

FYI I have an old thread on this, feel free to add to it if you like.

[dextrometh orphan]

Knowledge-making is often hegemonic. I find the epistemology field to be quite sexist. also, I think it worships the intellect too much.

[will.i.am]

... explain

[dextrometh orphan]

The production of knowledge is the production of culture, as well as the prevailing of fashionable theories and arguments of a time and place. Dominant arguments are not necessarily based on their truth content, but the skill with which they are presented. If you have access to knowledge-making tools such as quality education/literacy/the ability to travel, as well as avenues of communisation such as the media, then you have a much greater ability dictate your idea of reality. This is what hegemony is. this is what hegemony means. Also, the philosophy discipline tends to 'borrow' quite a lot from the feminist field and predominatley feminist writers, without reference, and then proceeds to bash it. It's a common pattern. There's actually a remarkable amount of literature written of feminist epistemology.

[Inferno]

If you ask me, this is getting ridiculous...

[dextrometh orphan]

...explain

[will.i.am]

Well said Dex, I see what you mean now.

[Inferno]

That hegemony stuff is of course interesting, but as a seperate discussion of course... But what you are saying is that "truth" happens to be whatever the most influencial people say? you know, I tend to think of philosophy as detached from whatever people say and rather anchored in reality. Hegemony is obviously the way knowledge spreads, Epistemology is how they got it in the first place. Could you explain how you epistemology is "sexist"? The concept has been around long before the first feminist?

[bradybaker]

Call it whatever you want, Agnosticism, Existentialism, Solipsism, Nihlism, Hegemony, etc. (and I'm sure some clever poster will point out the "huge differences" in those worldviews). I like to group them into one worldview appropriately called "Idontknowism". The problem with Idontknowism however, is that it is the answer to everything and the answer to nothing. Can "I don't know" be considered a correct and valid response to a question? I would argue not. These theories seems to suggest that, as a species, we should adandon all scientific research. It sure does consume a lot of money and resources...why not focus on curing hunger instead? Oh wait...bad example...that would probably require a bit of science. Come to think of it, if it weren't for scientific thinking we would still probably be a hunter/gatherer species living in dark caves somewhere in Africa. That sounds better doesn't it? I think that searching constantly and unrelentingly for the truth is a lot better than sitting around and staring blankly at what may or may not be a wall. Don't you?

[AirRick101]

Ultimately, I don't believe we learn anything meaningful. Anything gained can be forgotten. The only know that really matters is the one we are born with in spirit, not mental memorization and conditioning. Yeah, technological advancement is convenient (as much as it is destructive) and might as well be passed down appropiately to our children. But are children born with that knowledge? Does it really matter in eternity? I think not....

[Belisarius]

Originally posted by bradybaker Call it whatever you want, Agnosticism, Existentialism, Solipsism, Nihlism, Hegemony, etc. (and I'm sure some clever poster will point out the \"huge differences\" in those worldviews). I like to group them into one worldview appropriately called \"Idontknowism\". The problem with Idontknowism however, is that it is the answer to everything and the answer to nothing. Can \"I don't know\" be considered a correct and valid response to a question? I would argue not. These theories seems to suggest that, as a species, we should adandon all scientific research. It sure does consume a lot of money and resources...why not focus on curing hunger instead? Oh wait...bad example...that would probably require a bit of science. Come to think of it, if it weren't for scientific thinking we would still probably be a hunter/gatherer species living in dark caves somewhere in Africa. That sounds better doesn't it? I think that searching constantly and unrelentingly for the truth is a lot better than sitting around and staring blankly at what may or may not be a wall. Don't you? I don't suggest that we abandon science, I just acknowledge that science has never prooved anything, and has not advanced knowledge. Do what you like with science, I really have no grounds to tell you whether or not to drop it, and I'll probably buy things from you if you use science to make them into useful, valuable, products. My views don't change anything. If beliefs in science help people make advances in technology then I have no problem. If beliefs in religion help people treat each other nicely I have no problem. It's just that I can't honestly put faith into those or claim that I have knoledge, because I have realized that I don't.

[Stevehattan]

If you are in the "nothing can be proven" frame of mind, which is somewhat accurate and sensible, it's fine. You can look at it this way: science is about thinking up models that describe as accurately as possible what we percieve the universe to be. Then we can use those models to manipulate our perceptions as best we can. If there is an inconsistency between the model and what we percieve, we alter the model until it and out perceptions match up to an acceptable degree again. The better we can manipulate our perceptions, the happier we can make ourselves (happiness is what everyone wants).

[evangel]

I'm still waiting to hear more from dextrometh on the sexist issue. Usually those who claim "sexism" tend to identify strongly with one or the other (male or female), no? Or maybe they disagree with such distinctions...? Also: aren't philosphy and epistemology by nature "intellectual"? To say that "it worships the intellect too much" seems a bit strange to me. Do ALL those who have access to "knowledge making tools" dictate reality? Or do some "teach" reality. Is there a difference?

[Belisarius]

Evangel what are your epistemological beliefs? Christianity doesn't really have any epistemological dogmas as far as I know(although it seems as if materialism is assumed).

[evangel]

Not sure what you mean by epistemological "dogmas." There are theories, models, etc. Epistemology is not a very popular subject... It's usually only enjoyed by philosphers, university professors, and other intellectuals. As I understand it, it's simply the study of knowledge and how we know (truth,fact, reality, etc.). It's fascinating to me because when you look at the different ways or models of knowing, your sense of "fixed" or "concrete" reality is questioned and you can stretch your mind and your imagination. I have never studied it in depth, never taken classes, but the concept of it is mind-boggling to me. I really don't have the immense amounts of time it takes to read/study - it's really a very involved and complex subject.