Philosophy

• Epistemology


  A science devoted to the discovery of the proper method of acquiring and validating knowledge
• Purpose of epistemology


  • To show how we can acquire knowledge
  • To give us a method of demonstrating whether the knowledge we acquired is really knowledge (i.e., true)
• Knowledge


  • The clear awareness and understanding of something
  • It is provided by facts
  • It is based on reality
  • It is observable and evident on the real world
• How we acquire knowledge

  1. Using our senses (Empiricism)

  2. Thinking with the use of our minds (Rationalism)
• Empiricists


  • John Locke
  • George Berkley
  • David Hume
• Rationalists


  • Rene Descartes
  • Baruch Spinoza
  • Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz
• Process of acquiring knowledge

  1. Reality

  2. Perception

  3. Concept

  4. Proposition

  5. Argument
• Proposition


  • Statements about the world or reality
  • May or may not carry the truth
  • Facts-propositions or statements observed to be real and truthful
  • Claim - proposition that requires further examination; can be contested
• Argument


  • Series of statements that provide reasons to convince the reader/ listener that a claim/ opinion is truthful
  • Group of statements that serve to support a conclusion
• Premises


  The reasons used to support the conclusion
• Claim


  The conclusion of an argument
• Domains of truth


  • Objective domain
  • Social domain
  • Personal domain
• Objective domain


  Related to scientific truths; pertains to the natural world that maintains a relative independence from the perspective and attitude of human beings that perceived
• Social domain


  • Truth is related to a general agreement or consensus on what is right as opposed to what is wrong
  • Based on norms (standard of acceptable behavior in society)
• Personal domain


  Truth is related to "SINCERITY"; consistent to inner thoughts and intentions needs to establish "trust"
• Consensus has certain limitations. It is helpful but not always reliable
• Truth


  Has passed the "procedures of justification"
• Justification


  • The process of proving the truth or validity of a statement
  • This process is made up of ways of critically testing a claim against certain criteria
• Each domain of truth has a corresponding justification or has a different criteria for truth
• Scientific/Objective domain


  Truths are tested against empirical evidence
• Social domain


  Truths are tested against their acceptability to a particular group in a particular time in history
• Personal domain


  Truths are tested against the consistency and authenticity of the person who claims it
• • Truth is knowledge validated based on the facts of reality
  • Facts of reality are independent of your thoughts, feelings or preferences