This document discusses two ways of knowing - sense perception and language. It explores how each can be used to gain knowledge, justify conclusions, and communicate knowledge. However, it also notes limitations and problems with both. For sense perception, it mentions limitations, illusions, and how individual points of view can differ. For language, it discusses issues like ambiguity, context, and how meanings and understandings can vary between individuals and over time. The document aims to analyze both sense perception and language critically as ways of knowing.

1. Sense Perception and
Language
TWO WAYS OF KNOWING

2. The Ways of Knowing – a reminder
Language
Sense perception
Emotion
Intuition
Reason
Imagination
Memory
Faith

3. What is a Way of Knowing?
Means by which we acquire or gain knowledge.
Means by which we justify our knowledge claims.
Means by which we communicate or share our knowledge.
Discreet or interwoven?
◦ Language and reason
◦ Intuition and memory
◦ Memory and reason
◦ Sense perception and emotion

4. WhichWays of Knowing?
To gain knowledge?
To justify their conclusions?
To communicate their
knowledge?

5. WhichWays of Knowing?
To gain knowledge?
To justify her claim?
To communicate her knowledge?

6. WhichWays of Knowing?
To gain knowledge?
To justify claims?
To communicate knowledge
claims?

7. Language
◦What do we mean by Language as a way of
knowing?
◦ In what contexts do we encounter language?
◦The role of language in the acquisition of knowledge.
◦The role of language in evaluating, confirming, justifying
knowledge claims.
◦The role of language in communicating our knowledge.

8. Problems with Language
A word or a sentence:
◦What do I understand by what you said?
◦Do I understand the same as the next person?
◦What did you intend to communicate?

9. Problems with Language
◦Context
◦Ambiguity
◦Secondary meaning
(connotation,euphemism)
◦Metaphor
◦Irony or sarcasm
◦Vagueness
◦Translation
◦Culture

10. “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in
possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”
Consider the following:
◦ Context (who, what, when, where?)
◦ Literal meaning.
◦ Intended meaning.
◦ Is it indeed a ‘truth universally acknowledged’?
It is a truth universally acknowledged that when one part of your life starts going
okay, another falls spectacularly to pieces. Helen Fielding, Bridget Jones’ Diary

11. Context and meaning
It is true that most stupid people are conservative.
Although it is not true that all conservatives are stupid people, it is true that
most stupid people are conservative. John Stuart Mill
It is true that liberty is precious
It is true that liberty is precious; so precious that it must be carefully rationed.
Lenin

12. The meaning of words
Bossy -- Dominant
Cheap -- Inexpensive
Cocky -- Confident
Conceited -- Self-confident
Cowardly -- Prudent
Difficult -- Challenging
Fat – Overweight
Foolish -- Unwise
Nag -- Remind
Neutralise
Collateral damage
Friendly fire
Liberate
Ethnic cleansing
Pre-emptive strike
Pacification
Take out
Freedom fighter

13. Sense Perception
What are the senses?
◦ Sight
◦ Hearing
◦ Touch
◦ Smell
◦ Taste

14. The senses and reliability
We have limitations
We suffer from illusions (and others create illusions)
We make choices (and others make choices for us).
Points of View

15. Limitations
What other limitations can you think of?
Today?
At other points in time?
How might they affect the acquisition or
justification of knowledge?

16. The senses and reliability
We have limitations
We suffer from illusions (and others create illusions)
We make choices (and others make choices for us).
Points of View

17. Illusions and uncertainties
Can you trust what you
see/hear/feel/smell/taste?
Do you see/hear/feel/smell/taste the
same as someone else?
For more on this see Beau Lotto’s talk on TED

18. The senses and reliability
We have limitations
We suffer from illusions (and others create illusions)
We make choices (and others make choices for us).
Points of View

19. Choices

20. The senses and reliability
We have limitations
We suffer from illusions (and others create illusions)
We make choices (and others make choices for us).
Points of View

21. Points of view - the VJ Day Kiss Photo
"Suddenly, I was grabbed
by a sailor. It wasn't that
much of a kiss." she said
in a 2005 interview with
the Veterans History
Project. "I felt that he
was very strong. He was
just holding me tight. I'm
not sure about the
kiss...it was just
somebody celebrating. It
wasn't a romantic event.

22. Do you believe/trust/understand......
What you read?
It is as difficult for a rich man to
enter the kingdom of heaven as
it is for a camel to pass through
the eye of a needle.
What you see?