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Essays on epistemology
The importance of epistemology to education
Essays on epistemology
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In this paper, I will analyze a portion of the general kinds or manifestations of knowledge that epistemologists have thought is vital to highlight accompanied by the thought of learning as a kind or sensation of some sorts. Knowledge appears to be something we pick up as we live; how would we pick up it, however? That will be our next request, before we inquire as to whether our obviously taking in knowledge is a trickery: might no one ever genuinely get data? Solutions for these requests could indicate finer things of data's constituents, joining the rules incorporated in knowing. They process, shade, and refine these philosophical hypothesis and theories about learning. We will pick up a feeling of what philosophers have thought knowledge is and could be, on top of why a few rationalists have thought knowledge both does not and couldn't exist.
Did I already know?
Rationalists looked for widespread truths or plans by which a reasonable framework and structure of information could be derived. They doubted sense recognition in light of the fact that it’s comes about are so individualized and flighty. Socrates believed that knowledge and awareness were an intrinsic part of each learner. He demands attempting to create a generally material definition. So it is clear that Socrates not just accepted that there was such a mind-bending concept as outright learning and categorical truth yet he thought these were at last understandable, also. Inside a number of the level headed discussions recorded in Plato's "Dialogues", definitions are proposed and discredited, however regularly no attractive conclusion is arrived at. Yet it was much later that the Pessimists presumed that the disappointment to attain the much looked for after categoric...
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...rly the disappointments of men as he never encounter on a man living as an uncommon individual from his first stage; regardless, as he prescribes that we somehow helps us to recall what we knew before continuing with a characteristic life, morals is recently neglected and reminded. () Plato underpinned the probability of taking in memory; he said that everything was known from the prior or "before life" and that our taking in embody an approach of memory and not of revelation. ()
Conclusion
In the end, knowledge is not constructed nor transmitted and people generate new knowledge through activities, experiences, and experiments. Rationalism is not about the experience, however about the fundamental truths. It doesn’t matter when we know it, or comprehend anything about it. The fact of the matter is there are truths that will go on when all else neglects to exist.
The 'doctrine of recollection' states that all true knowledge exists implicitly within us, and can be brought to consciousness - made explicit - by recollection. Using the Platonic concepts of 'Forms', 'particulars', 'knowledge' and 'true opinion', this essay explains what can or cannot be recollected, why all knowledge is based on recollection, and why the doctrine does not prove the soul to be immortal.
The next major theory on how one obtains knowledge comes from David Hume’s Empiricism. Empiricism itself is the idea that all knowledge obtained is done so through senses or experiences throughout life. This theory itself clearly contrasts with rationalism as rationalists believe at no point that they should gain knowledge through senses/experiences. Furthermore, as an empiricist, he does not value anything that is not attained through experience. One of Hume’s beliefs is the idea that everyone is born with a mental “blank slate”. Because all knowledge we gain is thought to be gained through experience (which a newborn would have none at that point) the “slate” starts as blank and will filled in as the person learns through experiences. This
Rationalism states that the main source of our knowledge is through mind, rather than the senses. Intuition
In the Meno, Plato addresses the question of virtue, what it is, how to obtain and if virtue can be taught. Meno came to conclusion after a long discussion with Socrates that it is impossible to know what virtue is. The Meno’x paradox states, “if one knows what virtue is, he does not need to search for it. However, if one does not know what virtue is, how can he search for it? He may not know he has it even when he gets it.” Seeing how hopeless Meno is, Socrates propose the theory of recollection as a way to obtain virtue. This paper will argue against this theory.
The quest for knowledge, a topic often contemplated in philosophy, remains persistent with mankind seeking to understand the uncertainty in the world surrounding him. Epistemology is the branch of philosophy that raises questions and provides answers about what constitutes knowledge and justifies belief. The main concerns of knowledge in epistemology are how it is defined, what the source is, how it’s acquired, what its limitations are, and what kind of knowledge is necessary. Three very well known philosophers of their time offer their different ideas on the subject of knowledge and epistemology.
Epistemology is the branch of philosophy that studies knowledge. It is mainly concerned with the nature and scope of knowledge. It attempts to answer the basic question of what distinguishes true or adequate knowledge from otherwise false or inadequate knowledge (Heylighen). The major branches of epistemological theory are rationalism, empiricism and mysticism. Rationalism implies that knowledge is obtained through reason and introspection. Ones ideas are justified by sense experience, but if the senses and intuition are in conflict, the sensory evidence must be discarded. In empiricism, knowledge is obtained through observation and experiment. Models and theories may be used to organize this sensory experience, but if theories contradict experience they are wrong. In mysticism, knowledge is obtained through faith, emotions or revelation but if observation or intuition contradict, the knowledge is thus deemed wrong (“Rationalism”). Doubt, as a Persian Proverb once said, is the key to knowledge. It is one of the influencing factors in the expansion of knowledge. A fact that is conside...
...a of certain things still remain even with the birth of a person as the soul gains experience. With birth people do not forget those ideas altogether, but have difficulty to remember. They discover the way towards the good only through education which is in essence a process of recollection.
By the following knowledge, we can find happiness and help us do the right things. The power of knowledge hasn't lost a bit of significance even today and still valued by the majority of people. The society we live in today, knowledge is accepted by each and every one of us. The strong beliefs bring out more people seeking higher education and aspire to get a degree in such a field they desire. In the knowledge-based society we live in today, it has widely come to be accepted. A knowledgeable person gets the job quickly in the field. Considering the fact that knowledge and information are the important part of our lives, a knowledge is to fully understand it can give you enough value throughout your
Rationalists would claim that knowledge comes from reason or ideas, while empiricists would answer that knowledge is derived from the senses or impressions. The difference between these two philosophical schools of thought, with respect to the distinction between ideas and impressions, can be examined in order to determine how these schools determine the source of knowledge. The distinguishing factor that determines the perspective on the foundation of knowledge is the concept of the divine.
Empiricists and rationalists have proposed opposing theories of the acquisition of knowledge, which appear unable to coexist. Each theory holds its own strengths but does not demonstrate a strong argument in itself to the questions, “Is knowledge truly possible?” and “How is true knowledge obtained?”. Immanual Kant successfully merged the two philosophies and provided a convincing argument with his theory of empirical relativism, or what some may call constructivism. His theory bridges the gap between rationalism and empiricism and proves that empiricists and rationalists each present a piece of the full puzzle. In order to truly understand Kant’s epistemology, one must first review and understand both empiricism and rationalism on an impartial basis.
Donald Davidson identifies three forms of knowledge which he believes to be irreducible and interdependent: knowledge of self, which is immediately known; knowledge of the outside world, which is simply caused by the events and objects around you, and thus depends on sense organs to be semi-immediately known, yet open to uncertainty; and knowledge of the minds of others, which is never immediately known. The standard approach to philosophy tries to reduce one of these forms of knowledge to one or two of the others, often leading to unanswerable questions. Davidson argues that all three varieties of knowledge are interdependent—that is, you cannot have any one without the other two. In this paper, I will primarily review Davidson’s argument of the interdependence of the three varieties of knowledge. I will then briefly discuss the plausibility of Davidson’s account and question if it truly can explain how we come to understand others’ feelings and emotions.
“The wisest of all humans is he or she who knows that they know nothing.”-Socrates Epistemology, simply put is the study of knowledge. It looks at how we know, what we know, and do we really know anything at all? Knowledge is the foundation of any sound argument, and is used to get at the “truth” of things. In this paper, I will discuss epistemology and further explain it by relating it to something that I use to believe to be true that I no longer do.
Still innocent and so naïve, the common human consciousness slowly began to raise itself, giving birth thereat to great men, who will forever remain in the hearts of the “consecrated”. One of those great men was Plato.
... when he is discussing the unexamined life. When Socrates mentions the oracle, he is explaining how one can believe he knows all but still can question life. Although he believes that a smarter man will not be found, Socrates still questions and examines the life he leads. This is the basic concept of philosophy, to try to examine and understand what is going on in life. Socrates understands that without this questioning, there would be no philosophy or a worthwhile life. (Plato 25)
...d to understand among other mental acts. Possession of a mind implies that element is in a position of performing such mental acts, and the ability to either doubt, or understand or exhibit any of the mental acts implies that one is in a position of equally doing every mental act. Failure to perform of the mental acts also is an indication of the inability to perform any of the mental acts (Carriero & Broughton, 2011). Rational knowledge is valid but it must be combined with other knowledge to break its confinements so that it becomes sufficient when it comes to larger and broad fields.