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Kinds of Knowledge GST 302 Note 2

The document discusses the nature and classification of knowledge, including types such as empirical, factual, and domain knowledge, while emphasizing the importance of both sense perception and reason in acquiring knowledge. It also explores the validity of knowledge, questioning the nature of truth and outlining three theories for evaluating truth: the Correspondence Theory, Coherence Theory, and Pragmatic Theory. Each theory offers a different perspective on how to determine the truthfulness of beliefs and assertions.

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5 views

Kinds of Knowledge GST 302 Note 2

The document discusses the nature and classification of knowledge, including types such as empirical, factual, and domain knowledge, while emphasizing the importance of both sense perception and reason in acquiring knowledge. It also explores the validity of knowledge, questioning the nature of truth and outlining three theories for evaluating truth: the Correspondence Theory, Coherence Theory, and Pragmatic Theory. Each theory offers a different perspective on how to determine the truthfulness of beliefs and assertions.

Uploaded by

sijuwade24
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Knowledge is “stored facts”.

All humans are capable of the storage of facts or


information for retrieval at a later date. Knowledge can be classified into various
kinds;

1. Empirical Knowledge – acquired through sense perception – virtually through any of


the five senses. E.g. an empirical knowledge of a tree, man or woman could only be of a
particular tree or man or woman. It is the senses that bring us into touch with the
empirical world and reality. These things are involved in the act of sensation – namely
the object perceived, the sense organ that which it is perceived and the ego, the
consciousness or, in other words, the subject that interprets what is perceived and given
as a meaning. Sense itself cannot give meaning to the objects of sense-perception
without the ego. Therefore Immanuel Kant is right in saying that we need both sense-
perception as well as reason to produce knowledge (Thought without content is empty,
intuition without concept is blind)
2. Factual Knowledge:
3. A Posteriori Knowledge
4. A Priori Knowledge
5. Dispersed Knowledge
6. Domain (Expert) Knowledge
7. Encoded Knowledge
8. Explicit Knowledge

The Validity of Knowledge

Many of our beliefs that were thought to be true have today been discovered to
be false. So what makes some beliefs true and others false? Can we ever be
assured of discovering the truth? At what time should be assured of dealing with
facts rather than opinions? Great Greek philosophers like Socrates, Plato and
others have thought about the question what is truth? In fact people are still
seeking the answer. In science too, earlier acceptable theories have been
replaced by other theories were those beliefs, guesses or opinions. Truth has to
do with assertions or the claims we make about things.

Three test of truth:

In determining which beliefs are true, philosophers have relied on three main test
of truth. Traditionally, people have accepted in the past custom or tradition as a
sufficient justification for declaring something true, again appeal sometimes to
what is universally acceptable could be acceptable as standards for judging or
determining what is true and there is the instinct theory which is now seen as
conditioning theory and are well against.

The three we will therefore examine are:

1. The Correspondence Theory – Test of Agreement with “fact”

Truth is the agreement between the statement of fact and the actual fact or the
judgment and the situation the judgment claims to describe. Truth in fact has to
do with the assertions or the claims that we make about things. E.g. Osun State
is bounded by on the south by Oyo state; my statement is true according to this
approach because it corresponds to the actual geographical situation. As far as
correspondence theory is concerned, the absence of belief has no direct bearing
on the issue of truth or falsity since birth depends on the conditions that have
been affirmed or denied. Anytime a judgment corresponds with the facts, it is
true; if not, it is false. E.g. If I say, “there is an agric workshop in BUI”, this could
be verified by imperial investigation. The critics of this theory are weary and ask,
“How can we compare our ideas with reality? By that, experiences are known to
us and our circumstances, therefore we may not.

2. The Coherence Theory: The test of consistency.

This is where our statements and conclusions are basically influenced compared
directly with our ideas and judgments if there is consistency and harmony in all
judgment, then of course we could be said to be truthful. Most often, ordinarily we
judge statements, sentences as false or true. We reject man’s ideas as absurd,
and denounce some experiences as illusions or false perceptions.

3. The Pragmatic Theory: The test of utility

Pragmatism claims that we can know nothing about “substances”, “essences”


and “ultimate realities”. It opposes all authoritarianism, intellectualism and
rationalism. The pragmatists are thorough going empiricists in their interpretation
of the flux of experience. For the pragmatists, the truth is utility, workability, or
satisfactory consequences. Hence, there cannot be static or absolute truth. Truth
is therefore what has happened to a judgment or an idea. According to William
James, “True ideas are those that we can assimilate, validate, corroborate, and
verify. False ideas are that which we cannot”.

An idea or a theory or a hypothesis is true if it works out in practice and leads to


satisfactory results. However, the word satisfactory result may appear
ambiguous. Three approaches are involved in testing the truth here.

1. That is true that satisfies the desire and purpose of humans. Hence, true beliefs must
meet human needs, purpose and nature.
2. That is true that can be demonstrated experimentally, as in laboratory taste.
3. That is true that aids in the biological struggle for existence. Dewey discussed the
biological function of ideas and doctrines.

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