Clarifying terms such as truth and knowledge

1. Everything I tell you is a lie.

2. Knowledge: Why does it
matter?
Follow up on the Truman Show
Thinking about knowledge & truth

3. Categories of Knowledge
Knowledge by
Acquaintance/Direct
Experience
Knowing How / Skill

4. Categories of Knowledge
Knowing That/Knowledge Claim (Propositional)

5. Knowing that . . .

6. Knowing that . . . .

7. Knowledge: Epistemology
Different Kinds of knowledge
Propositional 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?

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

9. Knowing . . . .
Knowledge as a map
Epistemology: study of knowledge
Rationalism: use of logic , reason
Empiricism: use of the senses to obtain
information, knowledge

10. 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

11. Theories of Truth
B) Pragmatism
1. 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

12. 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

13. 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

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

17. Allegory of the Cave
Which concept of truth do you use the most?
Read, listen, reflect
How does this link to Truman Show?

18. Is Anything Real?

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

21. Writing Exercise
Choose 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”?

22. Thinking about Ideas
True & 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-

23. Is truth relative?
Plato argued that truth is: public,
independent, and eternal]
There are no facts, only interpretations
(Nietsche)
We are embodied learners
Man is the measure of all things: of things
which are, that they are, and of things which
are not, that they are not (Protagoras)