March, 26, 2010 EPISTEMOLOGY

1 Epistemology Three approaches General study (Broad sense) 1. Classical Approach : Socrates, Plato, Aristotle 2. Modern Approach : Start from Descartes 3. Contemporary Approach . Epistemology Religious doctrines, ethical statements, mathematical studies, etc. Epistemological discourse Concerning different particular fields, such as: Specific study (Limited sense) 1

2 Epistemology in General Main subject The Nature and Scope of knowledge Some of main questions What is knowledge? How is knowledge acquired? What do people know? How do we know that we know ? What is true knowledge How can we have a true knowledge? What is the criteria of true knowledge? How do we know that our knowledge is true ore false ? 3 Approaches Classical, Modern, and Contemporary 2

? ? ? ? 3 Epistemology in General 3 Approaches Classical Approach Classical, Modern, and Contemporary Classical Approach Some of the figures : Socrates (469 BC–399 BC ), Plato, Aristotle ? Main questions How do we know the reality? How can our mind come at the reality? ? What is the criteria of true knowledge? What is the value of knowledge? ? ? It does not put “Reality” in question : The Existence of Reality is taken for granted as a foundation or basic belief is regarded as self-evident or self-justified (badihi) Hence, the epistemological building in classical approach is grounded on basic belief At least, the reality, the knower himself, his emotion, sense, 3

The ground object of belief Modern Approach Main figure : Descartes (1596 – 1650 ) Modern approach in epistemology is begun since the Rationalism of Rene Descartes. Cartesian rationalism is the result of his methodical skepticism is aimed at eliminating all belief which it is possible to doubt, thus leaving us with indubitable beliefs, from which further knowledge is derived. Descartes held that a knowing subject can doubt on all of his knowledge. But how can he doubt on his doubt? Moreover, but how can one who doubts doubt on himself as real? The ground object of belief Our doubt 4

? ? 5 “Cogito, ergo sum” Cogito ergo sum Modern Approach The Cartesian Epistemological Steps From DOUBT to CERTAINTY then build further KNOWLEDGE Cogito ergo sum What is the criteria of indubitable knowledge? It must be 1. CLEAR & 2. DISTINCT 5

6 Modern Approach What is the criteria of indubitable knowledge? It must be 1. CLEAR & 2. DISTINCT (clarity contrasts with obscurity) distinctness contrasts with confusion Innate idea Such as ideas in : mathematics (e.g., number, line, triangle) logic (e.g., contradiction, necessity), metaphysics (e.g., identity, substance, causality). even our sensory ideas, of colors, sounds, tastes, and the like, whose content draws from the mind itself. Including GOD, (Since source of perfect idea in one’s imperfect mind, must not come from the imperfect but Perfect itself, that is God.) ideas whose content derives solely from the nature of the mind itself. GOD, is an idea But the idea is the primary, so He is real 6

Contemporary Approach JUSTIFIED TRUE BELIEF (JTB) Modern Approach Contemporary Approach Starts from methodical skepticism The question: What is indubitable knowledge? Main belief must be clear and distinct Start from defining knowledge The question is What is knowledge ? A knowledge must have 3 epistemic attributes: Belief Justified True The Epistemological Steps of Contemporary approach DEFINITION of KNOWLEDGE ANALYSIS of the definition FINDING THE 3 ATTRIBUTES, 1 2 Knowledge = (must be) JUSTIFIED TRUE BELIEF (JTB) 3 7

8 Classical Modern Contemporary Based on a preceding indubitable basic belief (the existence of reality) assumed taken for granted Contemporary From skeptic (methodical) to ultimate indubitable certainty from analysis to knowledge Influenced by Western acute Skepticism Under Analytic approach (analytic Philosophy) spell Certainty Doubt 100% human knowledge can be true (objectively grasp reality as it is) confident 50% - 50 % Between +/- 80% 8

That one cannot possess knowledge in some particular domain. SKEPTICISM Global skepticism Local skepticism That one cannot possess knowledge in some particular domain. ( absolute skepticism / universal skepticism) that one cannot know anything at all. Two common Arguments The argument from ASLEEP The argument from ERROR 9

It is adopted from a moral thesis - .R.M.Hare GLOBAL Skepticism Argument from ERROR Two premises Premise 1 Premise 2 Universalizability It is adopted from a moral thesis - .R.M.Hare A situation must be equally applicable to every relevant identical situation We mistaken in many situations in which we think we have knowledge claims. There are also situations we have knowledge claims that we don't know we are not mistaken about. CONCLUSION All human knowledge can be false, we cannot know whether or not we are mistaken, Human has no knowledge (justified true believe) 10

11 GLOBAL Skepticism from ASLEEP THE SAME FEELING OF REAL Argument from ASLEEP When we sleep, and in a middle of dreaming we are sure and believe that the situation, and whatever happen in dreaming, are real as if it is not a dream . . . until we wake up… then we realize that all the prior happenings are a mere dream But . . . We in dreaming situation we feel the world of dream as real THE SAME FEELING OF REAL of the real world when we wake up Then . . . What if that we think a dream is turn out to be real And what we guess as real, now, is turn out to be a dream? DREAM PARADOX What if our “dreaming” after we have awaken is turn out to our real awakening, and our awakening is turn out to be our dreaming? 11

Skepticism Three Levels of Skepticism 3 Levels 1. There is no reality Ontological, Epistemological, Hermeneutical Three Levels of Skepticism 1. There is no reality Ontological Skepticism 2. Even if there is reality, we are not able to make sure that it is reality Epistemological Skepticism 3. Suppose there is reality, and we sure on the reality, we still have no words to express what we know in our mind about the reality Hermeneutical Skepticism