Chapter 2: The Nature of Knowledge Terms to Remember Flashcards
knowledge
preliminary def: a justified true belief
- a “thick concept” only understood through experience and reflection
- consisting of: truth, belief & justification
truth
independent of what anyone believes is true
-objective requirement for knowledge
[must also be universally and eternally true]
belief
subjective requirement for knowledge there exists a \_\_\_\_\_\_\_-knowledge continuum -extends from impossible, unlikely, possible, to probable -certainty becomes knowledge 3 types: *-vague -well-supported -beyond reasonable doubt*
vague belief
an idea that something is true, without any source
-readily abandoned w/ the presence of counter-evidence
well-supported belief
an idea that something is true, with some evidence, but not certainty
belief that is beyond reasonable doubt
an idea that something is true, with evidence to support the claim and flimsy counter-evidence; leads to certainty and “knowing”
justification
supports our knowledge claims
- usually appeals to one of the 4 ways of knowing
- acceptability depends on reliability
- dependent on context (when is doubt appropriate?)
responsibility
asserting you “know” means you take _________ for its truth
facts; values
_________ are different from _________, suggesting an ethical element to the pursuit of knowledge
levels of knowledge
understanding grows with in-depth studying
-ranges from superficial grasp to complete mastery
information
random facts that may be true, believed and justified, BUT
to be knowledge, this _________ must be organized into a meaningful whole
-need detail and context
knowledge by authority/testimony
second-hand knowledge: main source of knowledge is other people (can NEVER be an original source of knowledge)
allows greater range of knowledge when it is shared
remember, none are infallible (limitations):
-cultural tradition
-school
-Internet
-expert opinion
-news media
culture
communication of beliefs and practices among generations
-progression of the “wheel” by accumulating achievements of past generations
authority worship
blindly accepting without thinking about it
-danger of reliance on second-hand knowledge
cultural tradition
embodies “the inherited wisdom of the community”
- strongly influential and may determine “intellectual default settings”
- natural attachment to our beliefs/practices
- point of reference for “reasonability”
- must have balance of living traditions, changing and developing over time (balance b/w respect of traditional thinking & questioning them)
school
difference b/w education and indoctrination
the WAY something is taught, not WHAT
internet
speed and accessibility; no quality control
-potentially a source of disinformation
urban legends
disinformation w/out a basis on fact
expert opinion
references to support the knowledge claim with evidence
remember:
-fallibility; may get it wrong
-limited range of competence (highly specialized insight)
news media
subjectivity and bias on selection and presentation 3 criteria for selection: -bad -extraordinary -relevancy (domestic)
bad news bias
focusing on negativity (crimes, wars, natural disasters)
- devel. pessimistic view
- creates & sustains fear
authority
__________ is not an original source of knowledge; thus, the need to justify through perception, reason and intuition
-but cannot completely rely on own judgment (won’t always believe what is actually true)
preliminary def: a justified true belief
- a “thick concept” only understood through experience and reflection
- consisting of: truth, belief & justification
knowledge
independent of what anyone believes is true
-objective requirement for knowledge
[must also be universally and eternally true]
truth
subjective requirement for knowledge there exists a \_\_\_\_\_\_\_-knowledge continuum -extends from impossible, unlikely, possible, to probable -certainty becomes knowledge 3 types: *-vague -well-supported -beyond reasonable doubt*
belief
an idea that something is true, without any source
-readily abandoned w/ the presence of counter-evidence
vague belief
an idea that something is true, with some evidence, but not certainty
well-supported belief
an idea that something is true, with evidence to support the claim and flimsy counter-evidence; leads to certainty and “knowing”
belief that is beyond reasonable doubt
supports our knowledge claims
- usually appeals to one of the 4 ways of knowing
- acceptability depends on reliability
- dependent on context (when is doubt appropriate?)
justification
asserting you “know” means you take _________ for its truth
responsibility
_________ are different from _________, suggesting an ethical element to the pursuit of knowledge
facts; values
understanding grows with in-depth studying
-ranges from superficial grasp to complete mastery
levels of knowledge
random facts that may be true, believed and justified, BUT
to be knowledge, this _________ must be organized into a meaningful whole
-need detail and context
information
second-hand knowledge: main source of knowledge is other people (can NEVER be an original source of knowledge)
allows greater range of knowledge when it is shared
remember, none are infallible (limitations):
-cultural tradition
-school
-Internet
-expert opinion
-news media
knowledge by authority/testimony
communication of beliefs and practices among generations
-progression of the “wheel” by accumulating achievements of past generations
culture
blindly accepting without thinking about it
-danger of reliance on second-hand knowledge
authority worship
embodies “the inherited wisdom of the community”
- strongly influential and may determine “intellectual default settings”
- natural attachment to our beliefs/practices
- point of reference for “reasonability”
- must have balance of living traditions, changing and developing over time (balance b/w respect of traditional thinking & questioning them)
cultural tradition
difference b/w education and indoctrination
the WAY something is taught, not WHAT
school
speed and accessibility; no quality control
-potentially a source of disinformation
internet
disinformation w/out a basis on fact
urban legends
references to support the knowledge claim with evidence
remember:
-fallibility; may get it wrong
-limited range of competence (highly specialized insight)
expert opinion
subjectivity and bias on selection and presentation 3 criteria for selection: -bad -extraordinary -relevancy (domestic)
news media
focusing on negativity (crimes, wars, natural disasters)
- devel. pessimistic view
- creates & sustains fear
bad news bias
___________ is not an original source of knowledge; thus, the need to justify through perception, reason and intuition
-but cannot completely rely on own judgment (won’t always believe what is actually true)
authority
