Theory of Knowledge - Essay Example

Theory of Knowledge Introduction Words are more false as well as powerful than we think. In this essay I shall evaluate how language plays an important role in gaining knowledge to extent to which the characteristics Sartre claims for words have an effect on - negatively or positively different areas of knowledge ( AOK). Knowledge claims must be supported by reason, or the knowledge claim does not have a basis to be truly considered knowledge. It can be regarded as a number of other things, such as a feeling. The dependence on reason is varied between areas of knowledge, as reason is much more important in the natural sciences and mathematics than in history and the arts. Some areas of knowledge do require reason in order to functions, like mathematics and the natural sciences, while some others, like art and history, do not, because they are based on humans, which are, by nature, partly irrational. This inability to apply reason to all aspects of knowledge means that in order to get a better understanding of these areas, we must use different ways of knowing. (Wok) There are four Ways of Knowing (WoK) perception, emotion, reason, and language. One is supposed to use the Ways of Knowing and the Areas of Knowledge to acquire, perceive, and apply knowledge. To understand the world and to achieve knowledge, people have developed a number of ways of knowing. These are well known as perception, emotion, language as well as reason. The question "each and every other way of knowing are controlled by means of language" is a statement that needs more investigation as well as reflection. Knowledge can be said to be information that the brain has received that meets a certain set of criteria. When someone states that they know something they must also believe that, that something is so. (http://www.dreamessays.com/customessays/Philosophy/10570.htm) Discussion A word is a unit of language that carries meaning and consists of one or more morphemes which are linked more or less tightly together, and has a phonetical value. In general a word will have a root or stem and zero or extra affixes. Words can be joint to make phrases, clauses, and well structured sentences. A word that consists of two or more stems combined together is known as a compound Language always is known for its words. And a language also requires a lot of easy words to be spoken every where. If language is spoken in extremely different places in a huge area that shows this language is has a big word capacity and a great deal easier than the other languages to comprehend. Words are determining the quality of language and so are important in every area of knowledge. Words seem to be so simple for a look but that is not really true. Words are not always easy, also words are actually keeping very complicated and deep meanings or their job is difficult. For example you know word “yes” an easy looking word at the first looking but yes maybe the answer of a very difficult agreement or a decision. At the same time it could be the response of an extremely simple question such as are you okay? But also as it has been said before the answer could be given for a very hard question which is very difficult to make a decision. Words are the key that unlocks your sensations as well as makes your sensations even stronger. If we do not have the words, then we don’t even have any feeling or thought that shapes a person to be a human, thus it can be said that words are one of the ways of knowledge. To begin with language can be defined as use of words in agreed way as means of human communication, communication of thoughts as well as feelings by means of a organization of random signals, like voice sounds, gestures, or written symbols. Thus, it follows that the structure of language restricts thought, which is part of the process of acquiring knowledge, and therefore knowledge. An inference can therefore be drawn that there would be no loss in the fidelity of information as it gets transmitted from one human to another. A language is a well set uniform standard in that it has a number of specific words that signify specific things, as well as its grammatical structure that combine words together into more difficult sentences. Nevertheless, language is by no means a syntax that is decisively produced entire then agreed upon. It is something that creates a fraction of the culture. People create a few specific words and ways of combining these words together, and they make use of these languages with a number of people. The language goes from person to person and spreads far and wide; it also undergoes a lot of modifications, and challenges new languages. Therefore we have a problem in that the syntax of language is not certain to be definite An example would be old texts, where even though the same word might be used, the meaning of it as the writer intended, or people of their time interpreted may be different. Language as a tool in gaining knowledge can be well understood by Locke according to Locke, words are the most important element of a language in fact they are the building blocks of language. Words, says Locke, signify stuff in our heads different from things that are in the external world. He moreover states that words signify ideas in a general point of view as divergent to specific. For example, when describing a cat, Locke states that a blend of words similar to soft, fur meows and arched-shaped are all joint to shape the idea of a cat. We do this so that words signify the idea of what a cat is. As a last topic of conversation in book three, Locke points out the weaknesses of language and its abuses when using it for different areas of knowledge. In his argument on the weaknesses of language, Locke points out primary reason. He seems to believe that the main problem with words is that they do not constantly send an identical image in the listener as the ones that are present in the speaker. Some of the general language abuses recognized by Locke are the following: people make use of words for which they do not have an obvious understanding of or that do not narrate to a separate idea. This lack of knowledge or careless usage could result in the transference of bad information. Secondly, people are repeatedly not in agreement with their word usage. Not utilizing the word to signify the same thing every time it is used can moreover result in miscommunication. People also have the predisposition to make terms difficult to understand by means of applying new and vague terms without even defining them. Example of Way of Knowledge and Language The essay title states that language forms the main thread in all of the ways of knowing. Then how is it that small children who cant speak contain knowledge even without being able to communicate with language? Very young children are able to grasp new concepts of the world around them, purely by observation and perception. In conclusion, we can say that language have some bearing on the way we perceive things. A good example of this is an incident in a magazine in which a young boy who could not even speak was going to a picnic with his family when the bus came he felt that there was something wrong. His emotions led him to stop his family some and stopped them from going in that bus. The next day they found out that the bus they missed had an accident. Here the way of knowing of the child was his emotions. In the same way when we do something wrong, we know it because we feel guilty or if we like someone we just feel it by emotion of love. Hence, emotions play a part in our way of knowing. The thing to consider in the above situation is that we reason on the basis of our emotion and perception. But, for reasoning - a mans tool for understanding - we need some kind of medium. As I asked before that a child who cant speak can acquire knowledge by perception. However he understands this perception by reasoning out. This reasoning is carried out by the brain. The child then knows about things in his own language unless he grows up and learns language spoken by us and thus gets acquainted with what the things are called. Conclusion In the end I would like to conclude with a personal opinion that knowledge is something you develop through reflection and consideration of what you perceive or through emotion and you use language when you reflect (reason) on it, but indirectly. Hence to conclude language doesn’t direct emotion, perception and reason but is simply a means of knowing. Work cited http://www.dreamessays.com/customessays/Philosophy/10570.htm retrieved on January 13, 2008 Read More