The Study of Knowledge

1. Epistemology The Question of Knowledge by: Kelly Hatton PHIL 283 I have read and understand the plagiarism policy as outlined in the syllabus and the sections in the Student Bulletin relating to the IWU Honesty/Cheating Policy. By affixing this statement to the title page of my paper, I certify that I have not cheated or plagiarized in the process of completing this assignment. If it is found that cheating and/or plagiarism did take place in the writing of this paper, I understand the possible consequences of the act/s, which could include expulsion from Indiana Wesleyan University.

2. Defined Epistemology is the study of knowledge and justified belief. What is knowledge? (Heylighen, 2000)

3. The study of knowledge… is concerned with 4 questions: Steup, 2010

4. The study of justified belief… answers questions such as: Steup, 2010

5. History “When we look at the history of epistemology, we can discern a clear trend, in spite of the confusion of many seemingly contradictory positions. The first theories of knowledge stressed its absolute, permanent character, whereas the later theories put the emphasis on its relativity or situation-dependence, its continuous development or evolution, and its active interference with the world and its subjects and objects. The whole trend moves from a static, passive view of knowledge towards a more and more adaptive and active one (Heylighen, 2000).” “Following the Renaissance, two main epistemological positions dominated philosophy: empiricism, which sees knowledge as the product of sensory perception, and rationalism which sees it as the product of rational reflection (Heylighen, 2000).” “The next stage of development of epistemology may be called pragmatic. Parts of it can be found in early twentieth century approaches, such as logical positivism, conventionalism, and the "Copenhagen interpretation" of quantum mechanics. This philosophy still dominates most present work in cognitive science and artificial intelligence.(Heylighen, 2000).”

6. Sources of Knowledge and Justification Steup, 2010

7. Structure The logic of the conflict between foundationalism and coherentism seems to suggest that, ultimately, between dependence coherentism and independence foundationalism. Steup, 2010

8. Limits Steup, 2010

9. Conclusion “We have come very far indeed from Plato's immutable and absolute Ideas, residing in an abstract realm far from concrete objects or subjects, or from the naive realism of the reflection-correspondence theory, where knowledge is merely an image of external objects and their relations. At this stage, the temptation would be strong to lapse into a purely anarchistic or relativistic attitude, stating that 'anything goes', and that it would be impossible to formulate any reliable and general criteria to distinguish 'good' or adequate pieces of knowledge from bad or inadequate ones (Heylighen, 2000).”

10. References Heylighen, F. (2000): “Epistemology, Introduction", in: F. Heylighen, C. Joslyn and V. Turchin (editors): Principia Cybernetica Web (Principia Cybernetica, Brussels), Retrieved January 10, 1010, from http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/epistemi.html Melchert, N. (2002). The great conversation, A historical introduction to philosophy (5th ed.). Boston: McGraw-Hill Steup, Matthias, "Epistemology", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Spring 2010 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), Retrieved January 10, 2011, from http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/spr2010/entries/epistemology/