Theory of Knowledge

Introduction

• You know a lot by now!

• Easy access to even more knowledge

- Newspapers!‘Alien base found on dark side of the moon’

- Internet!‘Elvis is alive’ websites

• Claims made about future all the time

• ‘There is no likelihood that humans will ever tap the power of the atom’ Robert Millikan, Nobel Prize winner in Physics

• ‘The atom bomb will never go off and I speak as an expert’ Admiral Leahy, advisor to the US President (1945)

• ‘I think there will be a world market for 5 computers’ Thomas Watson, founder of IBM (1958)

• ‘By 2000 women will wear pants, men will wear skirts, both sexes will go bare-chested and clothes will be see-through.’ Rudi Gernreitch. American fashion expert (1970)

• ‘The internet will never take off.’ Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft (1988)

What is knowledge?

What do you know?

You have 5 minutes to write down things that you “know”.

What is knowledge?

Of the things you know, can you pick 3 things that you are certain of?

What is knowledge?

Can you choose three of the things you “know” that you are least certain of?

Belief/knowledge continuum

Unlikely Probable

Impossible PossibleCertain

Where do we get our knowledge from?

Look at your list of things that you „know”. Where and how did you get that knowledge?

How do you know?

The sky is blue?

Perception

Perception

How many leprechauns?

Perception

Tractor Perspective Illusion - Optical Illusion Image Gallery #33

1 + 1 = 2

1 + 1 = 2?

In base 2, 1 + 1 = 10

104 103 102 101 100 10-1 10-2 10-3

1 5

25 24 23 22 21 20 2-1 2-2 2-3

1 1 1 1

1 + 1 = 2?

+ =

I know I went for a run yesterday

I know women are more emotional than men

I know I love my brother

I know that a lake is more beautiful than a sewage works

I know the room is hot

I know that Mozart was a great composer

I know there is life after death

I know there is a God

I know dogs are disgusting

““certainty”certainty”• Distinguishes knowledge from belief.• Truth without doubt.

• Language

• Perception

• Reason

• Emotion

I think, therefore I am

““relativism”relativism”• No absolute objective truth• Knowledge is relative to the individual, culture or society

This may be safer for ethics, politics & religion.But what about maths and science?

I knew the Earth was flat

I know Santa Claus exists

• you must believe the knowledge statement

• your belief in the knowledge statement has to be true

• your true belief has to be justified.

““justified, true belief”justified, true belief”

““justified, true belief”justified, true belief”Requires:• Evidence – reasonable & positive evidence that supports & justifies belief. Coherence – does this fit with our current understanding?

Can you see any problems with these requirements?