Epistemology is the study of knowledge - its nature, sources and limits. This document discusses various theories about the origins and justification of knowledge, including:
1. Empiricism - knowledge comes from sensory experience and experimentation. It provides probable but not certain knowledge.
2. Rationalism - knowledge comes from innate, a priori rational principles that are self-evident to the mind. It claims to provide absolute certainty.
3. Intuitionism - knowledge comes from mystical revelations or intuitions not derived from reason or experience. It is incommunicable.
4. Authoritarianism - knowledge comes from external authorities like religious institutions, the state, or charismatic individuals. It
Epistemology is the study of knowledge - its nature, sources and limits. This document discusses various theories about the origins and justification of knowledge, including:
1. Empiricism - knowledge comes from sensory experience and experimentation. It provides probable but not certain knowledge.
2. Rationalism - knowledge comes from innate, a priori rational principles that are self-evident to the mind. It claims to provide absolute certainty.
3. Intuitionism - knowledge comes from mystical revelations or intuitions not derived from reason or experience. It is incommunicable.
4. Authoritarianism - knowledge comes from external authorities like religious institutions, the state, or charismatic individuals. It
Epistemology is the study of knowledge - its nature, sources and limits. This document discusses various theories about the origins and justification of knowledge, including:
1. Empiricism - knowledge comes from sensory experience and experimentation. It provides probable but not certain knowledge.
2. Rationalism - knowledge comes from innate, a priori rational principles that are self-evident to the mind. It claims to provide absolute certainty.
3. Intuitionism - knowledge comes from mystical revelations or intuitions not derived from reason or experience. It is incommunicable.
4. Authoritarianism - knowledge comes from external authorities like religious institutions, the state, or charismatic individuals. It
Epistemology is the study of knowledge - its nature, sources and limits. This document discusses various theories about the origins and justification of knowledge, including:
1. Empiricism - knowledge comes from sensory experience and experimentation. It provides probable but not certain knowledge.
2. Rationalism - knowledge comes from innate, a priori rational principles that are self-evident to the mind. It claims to provide absolute certainty.
3. Intuitionism - knowledge comes from mystical revelations or intuitions not derived from reason or experience. It is incommunicable.
4. Authoritarianism - knowledge comes from external authorities like religious institutions, the state, or charismatic individuals. It
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EPISTEMOLOGY
Dr. Mehboob Bukhari
EPISTEMOLOGY • Philosophical activity directed to the questions: What and how the knower knows? • It studies the sources, nature, limit and validity of knowledge claims • It develops the standards of analysis and development of knowledge judgments • Common sense understanding about it knowing by trial and error. Is it more systematic, rigorous and dependable? • ‘Justified true belief’, Plato says. Not opinion, it must have reasons, blind and man with vision • Compare Absolute Knowledge (Certainty) – Probable Knowledge Sources of Knowledge • Empiricism = aposteriori = after Experience = five senses • Rationalism = apriori = before experience = self evident principles • Intuitionism = intuition • Authoritarinaism = other than self like State, Family, Church etc. EMPIRICISM • High probable knowledge is a stable and realistic foundation for knowledge accessible to human beings. • Unreasonable to seek absolute all inclusive knowledge. • We have practical, slower but dependable from of knowledge. • Probably true, certainty is not guaranteed. • Knowledge is a posteriori – post experiential – acquired through experience • Show me, how did you know? Etc. • Two aspects • Distinction between knower (subject) and thing known (object) • Public verifiability: experience of the known must be repeatable by other people ASSUMPTIONS • Empiricism depends 1. Principle of Regularity (Uniformity): Nature is orderly. Things in nature behave regularly. Probable behavior of things becomes predictable 2. Principle of Resemblance / IDENTICAL: (Human ability to extract likeness from distinct objects) experience of identical things allow us logically to make generalizations about things. Enable prediction JOHN LOCKE • John Locke: Experience by five senses: • Human mind is a ‘tabula rasa’ smooth wax tablet. Sensory impressions are transcribed. • Human mind receives, stores and combines different sensations • Empiricism in scientific way: a neuro-chemical process. External objects stimulate sense organs, cause change in brain / mind OBJECTIONS 1. Meaning of experience is ambiguous. Stimulation of senses, sensation plus judgment. Nothing is self-evident, just Interpreted. 2. Human senses are limited, deceptive and imperfect. Separation of fact from fancy 3. No certainty. Probable knowledge is questionable knowledge. We do not have unbroken sequence of sensory experiences. RATIONALISM • Absolute and reliable knowledge emanates from mind not from sensory experience. Knowledge exists within us in the form of rational abstract principles. Rational intuition is the real world. Not subjective. Truth and falsity in ideas not in things. • Absolute and certain knowledge • Apriori: Self evident propositions: clear and distinct to mind. Certain. Human beings know the self evident ideas residing in mind. They are neither created nor learnt from external sources. • A priori ideas contain in human mind (container of ideas). Mind reasons in this sense. • Since Human mind comprehends analytic principles; therefore they must exist – true and real. Otherwise mind must be incapable of knowing them. • Experience is understood in this light. • Plato: People remember what they already know, not learn. • Learn means discovering truth unknown previously? But how will he recognize it? Already known knowledge. • Experience stimulates memory. • Basic reality is composed of two: World of Principles existing changelessly and absolutely for everyone for all times • Orderly process of rational thought allows us access to knowledge. With Rational intuition people can know the Forms: We can conceive them • Rene Descartes • Foundation of knowledge on certainty. Applied rational doubt. Everything will be doubted. Senses, tradition, feelings, beliefs, dreams, hallucinations, God could deceive me, one thing remains indubitable – the act of doubting. My existence as doubting self – thinking self – je pense donc je suis • This is clear and distinct idea, the doubting self, is the foundation of knowledge. OBJECTIONS • All humans have not accepted the existence of self evident ideas. Plato and Descartes gave different theories of rationalism/ the basic truths? • Descartes cogito does not take us further but takes help from other theories. Principles are self evident to a culture not universality • Rational thought is impractical in world affairs. Abstractness and downplaying sensory experience is criticized. • Vast changes in the world and increase human knowledge cannot be explained in this theory. Many self evident ideas were changed later on. INSTITUITIONISM • How does the charismatic man acquire knowledge? Mysticism / revelation • Reliable source of knowledge is intuition, not reason, experience. Direct awareness. No systematic mental activity. Synthesis of self and reality • Feeling of being sure, ‘peak experience’ Maslow • Inner light, unnamable name etc. indescribable feeling of ones, It is unfair, incommunicable CRITICISM • Inconsistent: no standard which is knowledge and not • Incommunicable: AUTHORITARIANISM • Rely on outside the individual: the state, family, church • Focuses on sources rather than on method by which knowledge is acquired TRADITION • Humans are learning social animal. They learn what is formally taught and informally communicated. • Socialization / enculturalization; skills, beliefs etc. beliefs so learned become /operates authoritative sources • If individuals were to start from the scratch, no development of knowledge • Accumulated knowledge becomes cultures’ tradition. • Tradition expresses in standardization by which things are measured. It coercive effect in knowing themselves and their environment • Tradition provides continuity, stability, a base for correction that transcends one individual. • Tradition’s superiority emanates from the survival of the fittest presumption. MAJORITY OPINION • Most reliable source of knowledge • What is true for majority is true for individual • Interestingly: Knowledge depended on minority. People believed that Earth is flat or center etc. EXPERT OPINION AND PRESTIGE • In complex world, we accept our dependence on ‘experts, position to know’ • Author’s competency and authority on the subject. • It is not intrinsic merit. Encroachment in another area. CHRISMATIC PERSONALITY • Dynamic ‘unexplainable personalities, intangible/indefinable power. • Fountain head of knowledge power right. Truth and right are embodied in the person. Source and proof of both M.A Jinnah, Hitler, Gandhi • Knowledge is attained through one’s surrender to charismatic authority. Emotional commitment. • Why charismatic authority’s view is truer, we are bound to raise non charismatic criterion. OBJECTIONS • Misplaced: not all cultures survived, surviving cultures have different knowledge and practices • No new knowledge: innovative knowledge is oppressed. Bruno was burned modern view of universe