Epistemology is the study of knowledge, or better said epistemology is the
"Theory of Knowledge." How do we know what we know? What is truth or justified belief? What
is justification? This is your video introduction page. I thought it would be a good idea if we saw the opinions of other people; this may also help you understand epistemology; the topic that we will be discussing here. You will find two introduction pages, this one and one without videos as well as several other pages of information here pertaining to epistemology.
I am a philosopher, hence my online title of Ms Philosopher. I am not the new age pupil
earning a doctorate to better my self at work in order to get a promotion. I am an 'old
thinker" such as Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, and Descartes. When I attended orientation
for my doctoral program I felt a bit out of place as I was looking for people with
interests like mine, or at least people with minds that think like mine. I am extremely
analytical and I tear everything apart. I start with the basics, whereas today, many
graduate and post-graduate scholars think in the here and now. They do not concentrate
on how and why a thing is what it is and if it is then how is it and why is it and how
do we really know that it is. That is how I think, very analytically and complex.
What do you believe? Why do you believe what you believe? Do others believe what
you believe and if not are your beliefs justified? If other people believe what
you believe does that mean that your beliefs are true? I say no. Belief does not
necessarily mean truth.
Do you believe that we can function as brains in a vat? Do we need our bodies in order
to function? Our bodies die as does all things in life. What do you believe?
What if we are one collective mind? Imagine we are one person, we are on earth or
somewhere in the universe alone. We may not ever die...we live on and we are bored.
After an undetermined amount of time we need stimulation so this one mind splits
into several minds. Or...maybe, we are several people with our brains in a vat and
we create a world where we can be stimulated. Maybe...just maybe...we live on
another planet and our minds are here. Do we really know? Maybe we are asleep and
we are awaiting consciousness. Why do we use only 10% of our brain's power?
Is knowledge based on our perception? Tradition? Religion? How do we gain knowledge
and is the knowledge we gain truth?
I am not sure how you will receive this guy but we are all entitled to our opinions.
JUSTIFIED TRUE BELIEF
Thanks for sharing this last video Dan!
Do you claim to KNOW what you believe? Our thoughts and beliefs are not necessarily TRUE.
If some of you are wondering what the above video has in common with the other videos; please understand that our thoughts and beliefs are the basis for what we claim to know. While all of the other videos explain what epistemology is and introduce different ways of knowing; the above video is an exercise that informs us that we think we know what we believe. So in fact; we must question what "We think we know."