The Meaning of Knowledge: Crash Course Philosophy #7
What Does It Mean to Know Something?
Introduction to Knowledge and Belief
- Crash Course Philosophy introduces the concept of knowledge, questioning what it truly means to "know" something.
- Philosophers seek precise definitions for terms like "know," "believe," "proposition," and "justification."
- The discussion highlights ongoing philosophical debates about the nuances of knowledge and belief.
Assertions vs. Propositions
- Philosophers argue differently than casual debaters; they utilize rhetorical devices to explore ideas.
- Understanding the difference between an assertion (a statement with a truth value) and a proposition (the underlying meaning of that assertion) is crucial.
- An assertion can be true, false, or indeterminate based on its context, particularly when discussing future events.
Truth Values and Propositional Attitudes
- All declarative sentences have truth values; assertions about the past or present are either true or false.
- The content of an assertion is termed a proposition, which remains constant despite changes in language or expression.
- A speaker's mental state towards their proposition is known as their propositional attitude, influencing whether they believe or disbelieve their own assertions.
Defining Belief
- Belief is defined as taking a propositional attitude of truth; one believes something if they think it corresponds to reality.
- False beliefs can exist; simply thinking something does not guarantee its correspondence with reality.
Understanding Knowledge: Justified True Belief
- Traditional definition states that knowledge consists of justified true belief—three components: belief, truth, and justification.
- To know something, one must believe it is true, have evidence supporting that belief, and ensure it corresponds with reality.
What is Knowledge? Exploring Testimony and Gettier Cases
The Role of Testimony in Knowledge
- Most knowledge about the world is acquired through testimony, such as teachings from educators, books, and news reports.
- Justification for beliefs can come from various sources, including first-person observation—information gained through direct sensory experience.
Understanding Justified True Belief
- Traditionally, knowledge was defined as justified true belief: one must believe something that is true and have justification for that belief.
- A false belief cannot constitute knowledge; if a belief turns out to be false, it indicates a lack of actual knowledge.
- Accidental true beliefs without justification also do not qualify as knowledge.
Edmund Gettier's Challenge to Traditional Knowledge
- Philosopher Edmund Gettier introduced cases demonstrating situations where justified true belief does not equate to knowledge.
- In one case, Smith believes "the person who gets the job has 10 coins in his pocket" based on evidence that ultimately leads him to an incorrect conclusion about who got the job.
Analyzing Gettier Cases
- Despite having a justified true belief (Smith has 10 coins), he did not know it because his justification was flawed; he simply lucked into being correct.
- This illustrates that stumbling upon the right answer does not equate to genuine knowledge.
Philosophical Implications and Ongoing Debates
- Gettier's work prompted philosophers like Roderick Chisholm to create their own examples challenging the definition of knowledge.
- Many contemporary philosophers agree that Gettier effectively undermined the traditional definition of justified true belief.
- The debate surrounding what constitutes knowledge continues vigorously among philosophers today.
Conclusion: What Comes Next?
- Future discussions will explore alternative definitions of knowledge beyond justified true belief while summarizing key concepts related to assertion and propositional attitudes learned in this session.