What Do We Know?

Epistemology, (in Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)

First published Wed Dec 14, 2005

Defined narrowly, epistemology is the study of knowledge and justified belief. As the study of knowledge, epistemology is concerned with the following questions: What are the necessary and sufficient conditions of knowledge? What are its sources? What is its structure, and what are its limits? As the study of justified belief, epistemology aims to answer questions such as: How we are to understand the concept of justification? What makes justified beliefs justified? Is justification internal or external to one's own mind? Understood more broadly, epistemology is about issues having to do with the creation and dissemination of knowledge in particular areas of inquiry. This article will provide a systematic overview of the problems that the questions above raise and focus in some depth on issues relating to the structure and the limits of knowledge and justification.

• 1. What is Knowledge?
  • 1.1 Knowledge as Justified True Belief
  • 1.2 The Gettier Problem
• 2. What is Justification?
  • 2.1 Deontological and Non-Deontological justification
  • 2.2 Evidence vs. Reliability
  • 2.3 Internal vs. External
  • 2.4 Why Internalism?
  • 2.5 Why Externalism?
• 3. The Structure of Knowledge and Justification
  • 3.1 Foundationalism
  • 3.2 Coherentism
  • 3.3 Why Foundationalism?
  • 3.4 Why Coherentism?
• 4. Sources of Knowledge and Justification
  • 4.1 Perception
  • 4.2 Introspection
  • 4.3 Memory
  • 4.5 Reason
  • 4.6 Testimony
• 5. The Limits of Knowledge and Justification
  • 5.1 The Case for Skepticism
  • 5.2 Skepticism and Closure
  • 5.3 Relevant Alternatives and Denying Closure
  • 5.4 The Moorean Response
  • 5.5 The Contextualist Response
  • 5.6 The Ambiguity Response
  • 5.7 Knowing One Isn't a BIV
• 6. Additional Issues
  • 6.1 Virtue Epistemology
  • 6.2 Naturalistic Epistemology
  • 6.3 Religious Epistemology
  • 6.4 Moral Epistemology
  • 6.5 Social Epistemology
  • 6.6 Feminist Epistemology
• Bibliography
• Academic Tools
• Other Internet Resources
• Related Entries

Meeting, June 2, 2017

Your first summer weekly reminder --

We will convene Friday, June 2, 2017 from 9:45am until 11:45am.  Our meeting place is the Eastside Branch of the Lexington Public Library, on the second floor.

This meeting will be devoted to introductions and reintroductions, and organizational questions.  If we have time, we will discuss the item on know-it-alls and the illusion of competence.  If there are other topics you wish to discuss, either post your suggestions in the comment section at the web page or send an email response to jimmonomoy@gmail.com  

See our website at
https://reasonockhammencken.blogspot.com

Please note, we are meeting WEEKLY, although the catalog showed, in error, Bi-weekly.

The Illusion of Competence

https://aeon.co/ideas/what-know-it-alls-dont-know-or-the-illusion-of-competence

Knowledge v. Philosophy

https://plus.google.com/113700692001101266343/posts/778y7Ki8b8A?_utm_source=1-2-2

Absolute Divine Right

Absolute monarchy – a form of government where a single ruler, usually called a king or queen, has complete control over all parts of the government.  His/her power is not limited by a constitution or by the law.  In an absolute monarchy, the transmission of power is hereditary.

Divine right - a monarch is not subject to any rule on earth and his right to rule comes directly from God.  The king is not a subject to the will of his people, the aristocracy, and in some cases the church.  Any attempt to depose the king or restrict his powers is going against the will of God.

Glossary 2

Thinking Beauty

Aesthetics

Does the experience of beauty require a person to think?

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/05/170511142028.htm

Critical Path Method

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_path_method

Adler and Hazlitt

Here are two books we discussed in our critical thinking meeting on May 12:

• Mortimer Adler, How to Read a Book
• Henry Hazlitt, Economics in One Lesson

Glossary

Tee Shirts

Your weekly reminder

We will convene Friday, May 12, 2017 from 9:45am until 11:45am.  Our meeting place is the Eastside Branch of the Lexington Public Library, on the second floor.

At the end of our last meeting, we decided we will talk about critical thinking and frameworks.  Either post your additional suggestions in the comment section at the web page or send an email response to jimmonomoy@gmail.com  

There are a few suggestions currently.  See our website at
https://reasonockhammencken.blogspot.com

Please note, we are meeting WEEKLY, although the catalog showed, in error, Bi-weekly.

We have agreed to meet once more before ending the Spring term.  This Friday will be the last meeting on May 12.  We will begin the Summer session on the first Friday in June, the 2nd. (note change).

Also, please note, if you are already in the SIG, it will not be necessary to register for the Summer term.

Math

https://qz.com/973980/you-werent-bad-at-math%e2%80%8a-%e2%80%8ayou-just-werent-looking-at-it-the-right-way/

Apology

I said something yesterday that I regret.  It was so far incorrect that I cannot rember the exact details, but I am writing this clarification.

I am critical of the politicians and manipulators who are exploiting the associations among the US, Israel, Saudi, and Europe.  I did not mean to indict the people.  The mouth sometimes operates independently of the brain, which in turn often runs ahead of itself.

Introduction to Critical Thinking

After watching this, your brain will not be the same | Lara Boyd | TEDxV...

5 tips to improve your critical thinking - Samantha Agoos

Why Do We Remember War? | Philosophy Tube

POLITICAL THEORY - Thomas Hobbes

Philosophy of War - Alan Watts

US War Culture

Culture Matters

In her article, "US War Culture and the Star Wars Jugggernaut," Theology and Science, vol. 14, no. 4, 393-397, Kelly Denton-Borhaug discusses what she calls the US war culture, i.e. That " ... the mindset, values and structures that are endemic to war interpenetrate with all the systems, institutions and everyday activities of our lives. ... War seeps into our culture and national identity, even as we in subtle and not-so-subtle ways are encouraged to see war as fun, manly, exciting, the ultimate adventure -- something one wants to do when one grows up." As the manifestation of this cultural flavor, she claims: "The myth of redemptive violence at the heart of the war culture and the popularity of this franchise teaches that violence will save us." Is this an effect we are seeing in our politics and on our streets today? If so, what can we do to mitigate this trend in thinking?

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14746700.2016.1231975