Everything I tell you is a lie.

Knowledge: Why does it matter?Follow up on the Truman ShowThinking about knowledge & truth

Categories of Knowledge

Knowledge by Acquaintance/Direct Experience

Knowing How / Skill

Categories of KnowledgeKnowing That/Knowledge Claim (Propositional)

Knowing that . . .

Knowing that . . . .

Knowledge: EpistemologyDifferent Kinds of knowledgePropositional Knowledge (by description)Propositional Knowledge (knowing that . . .) vs. knowing

how. . . Knowledge by Acquaintance (what we have of other people,

of places, of food)Knowledge at different levels Is all knowledge equally useful?Does it matter if you have knowledge or not? All things

being equal, would you rather know or not know?

Essential QuestionsHow do you know what you know?Does it matter if what you believe is true?How can we best define truth and reality?

Knowing . . . .Knowledge as a mapEpistemology: study of knowledgeRationalism: use of logic , reasonEmpiricism: use of the senses to obtain

information, knowledge

Theories of Truth

A) Coherence 1. Aim of thinking is to understand--we build a

bridge from what we already know 2. We use this test all the time; a new claim is

checked against beliefs we we already hold; is it plausible? Does is make sense to me?

3. A proposition is true if it fits with your overall set of beliefs --if it logically coheres

Theories of TruthB) Pragmatism1. Truth is “that which works” and

“that which we create,” what is expedient, useful, not static

2. Scientific Realism vs. Scientific Anti-Realism

3. Anti-Realism: hypotheses & explanations don’t have to be true, they just have to work with what’s observed

Copernicus 1543• Proposed the heliocentric model of solar system to

replace the Greek (Ptolemaic view)—offered his proposal as a modest hypothesis that might do a better job of “saving the phenomena” or accounting for observations (in this case, the retrograde motion of the planets)

• No big uproar from Church or society

Galileo Galilei• When Galileo built his telescope in

1609 and in 1610 viewed Jupiter’s moons, he championed Copernicus’ view as true & revelation of truth like scripture

Theories of TruthB) Correspondence1.Truth must correspond with what is observed; what is verified by senses or by reason: GO & CHECK!2.Claims have to match with reality3.For Science, our theories must tell a true story about nature

Allegory of the CaveWhich concept of truth do you use the most?Read, listen, reflectHow does this link to Truman Show?

Is Anything Real?

It’s the old “brain-in-a-vat” scenario

Writing ExerciseChoose 1 of the following quotes on the next slide.Respond to the quote by clarifying what you think it means,

whether or not you agree and why/why not. In your response, use examples to illustrate (specific ones) your ideas. Offer at least 1 counterclaim or alternate consideration to your ideas. In other words, show some balance.

Consider the following, if applicable: Is the quote about definitions of terms or ideas? Language? Are there assumptions made in the quote? If so, what are they? What challenges or questions of knowledge is the quote illustrating

about this concept we call “truth”?

Thinking about IdeasTrue & false are attributes of speech, not of things. And where

speech is not there is neither Truth nor Falsehood. –Thomas Hobbes-

In saying that everyone believes what is true, he is conceding the truth of beliefs which oppose his own; in other words, he is conceding the truth of the opinion that he is wrong. -Socrates-

There is absolutely no criterion for truth. For reason, senses, ideas, or whatever else may exist are all deceptive. –Carneades-

I have never had any doubts about truth, because it seems a notion so transcendentally clear that nobody can be ignorant of it. –R. Descartes-

Is truth relative?Plato argued that truth is: public,

independent, and eternal]There are no facts, only interpretations

(Nietsche)We are embodied learnersMan is the measure of all things: of things

which are, that they are, and of things which are not, that they are not (Protagoras)