Theory of Knowledge - Essay Example

Advantage and Disadvantage of Using Models INTRODUCTION A model is a of how a process or system works in a theoreticalformat. The Model is a physical representation of the actual thing but on a smaller scale. It gives information on how the actual thing works or might work. Knowledge is the understanding and information of a concept that a person or people have. It is what people believe to be true in relation to the issue at hand. The word ‘produce’ in this context is used to mean ‘explain’1. This paper aims to analyze the merits and demerits of using models in the explanation of ideas. This paper aims at assessing the concept of models and identify the merits and demerits associated with its use in the issuance of the world’s knowledge. Use of Models in Different Knowledge Areas Models have been used in the explanation of the concepts that relate to natural sciences. The basis of natural sciences has two models that define scientific inquiry after the Renaissance period. These theories are: (i) Theory of Falsification by Popper, and (ii) Kant’s Hypothetico Deductive Method. Both the Popper and Kant’s theories are models since they explain a concept and they can be tested. These major models can be broken down into models of: medical diagnosis, epidemiology, body fatigue (sports physiology), and metal fatigue (engineering) among others. The field of human sciences has several challenges in relation to biasness2. Models in this field provide the appropriate framework for measuring the results. An example of a model in human sciences is the Jung’s theory of Archetypes that is found in Psychology field. In Ethic, models are used as the clarifiers and the guide to the concepts learned. The models include the Confucius and Aristotle use of the model The Golden Mean. It also entails John Stuart’s The Principle of Utility and Judea- Christian thinking of the Agape Principle. In Arts, a model can be defined as a group of characters that defines an outcome or processes that represents a genre when dominant. Examples include; Impressionist painting genre was a model of Seurat and Cezanne work3. Modeling Based on Ideas of Expectation Modeling can be discussed in its predictability form as a wider approach. This approach argues that the use of models formed after renaissance period enables us make predictions. The model is therefore a product of previous data amalgamated to facilitate prediction making. This approach can be applied in epidemiology, engineering, financial markets among other areas. This can then be used in the counterargument against the Black Swan’s Kantian notion. This argument goes against the previous knowledge accumulated thus changing the model or even makes the model irrelevant. In real life, these situations include unexpected weather like the tornadoes and hurricanes, crashes in the stock market or conflicts at the international level4. Modeling Based on Ideas of Verifiability The nature of predictability of the models can be developed further by an irrational exploration. It entails the discussion of the behaviors that are deemed irrational in the real- life situations. It also addressed the irrationality of the behavior to determine the cause. Is the irrationality due to the knowledge models that are pre- existing? Or are the models employed more popular compared to the one the actor is using to determine his or her behavior? In this case, tee al life situations include a stranger’s unexpected altruism and excessive consumption of material. It also can be unexpected actions due to international conflict, the value of ignorance on the expense to knowledge among others5. ADVANTAGES OF USING MODELS TO PRODUCE KNOWLEDGE OF THE WORLD The use of models in the production of the world knowledge has several advantages. There are several advantages that come with the use of models in producing the knowledge of the world. First, the models are more consistent internally compared to common sense. This prevents the occurrence of contradicting knowledge in relation to the world concepts. For example, it is easier to make consistent and clear predictions from a model. Second, models entail facts that are consistent as opposed to common sense. Theories are made from data that are systematically collected and analyzed that giving the ideal scenario. In cases where facts don’t play a major role the model development, it is used in its development. Models rely on facts and the hypotheses formed from the models are more educated guesses. Third, models are not restricted to make sense or give intuitive obvious predictions. The models can give predictions that counter the intuitive ideas6. For example, the theory of Social learning predicts that issuing a reward to a child for his behavior could make him to the activity less. This is because the child might be doing the activity for the gift and not his likeness. Models are not restricted to common sense thus can issue controversial views. For example, the Darwin’s Evolution Theory that looks the apes as relatives to human beings. Fourth, models organize and summarize a large amount of vital information. The models have several individual facts connected together and it gives them meaning. The models are therefore based on facts and can connect a variety of disciplines7. The models therefore don’t just concentrate on the fields but how the world works. For example, it is a fact that children at age 7 don’t start viewing Santa Clause as not real. According to the Piaget’s theory context, at age 7 children start to think logically and able to identify facts. This means that they are able to tell that Santa Clause can’t be everywhere at once. Fifth, the models act as a basic knowledge in which other information can be added onto. For example, most of the research work and findings are based on theories that they rely on. Sixth, models have a broad scope thus can provide a wide knowledge to several works. For example, the theory of social learning can be applied to smokers, librarians, politics, and businesses among others8. Seventh, models aim to get the facts through the use of primary ideas. That is, they employ the use of few basic principles to address the broad range of issues. People therefore prefer theories that have few broad principles compared to those that have several ones. For example, Social Learning theory and Evolutionary Theory have gained popularity due to their few principles. Finally, models are often easy to test compared to common sense. This is because the models normally have variables thus can be measured objectively. For example, the Evolutionary Theory variables include time; an element that can be measured.                 DISADVANTAGE OF USING MODELS TO PRODUCE KNOWLEDGE OF THE WORLD The use of models to produce knowledge of the world has disadvantages. Similar to all things on Earth, the use of models to produce the knowledge of the world have disadvantages. First, models offer predictions and not the accurate details in relation to reality9. The information that is offered by the models doesn’t give the real information of the actual process. For example, a model of the globe is just predicts the earth but doesn’t give the actual thing. Second, Models just present an incomplete idea of a concept in our heads. The Model presented in maps, computer simulations and scale models presents an idea that is not complete. This means that one has to look for the remaining puzzle to make the idea have sense, for example, the investigation of the atoms that resulted in more accurate but incomplete models. Third, models may be not in the appropriate ratio to the actual thing that they present10. The models that are used often tend to have information that doesn’t give the exact images expected. For example, the model of the globe that are found in the classroom are not made as to scale. Lastly, the models do not give the full details of the exact image or process. Some of the important information is normally left out from the models since the aim is to make it understandable. For example, the calculation of the gravity presented as a model shows that the force of gravity is not exact. CONCLUSION The natural sciences models are designed to be tried in its form of fasifiability characteristics. In the field of human sciences, modeling is defined in terms of its accuracy and efficacy. The models in the field of ethics take consideration of clarifier and guide to define the concepts. In the arts fields, there is a variety of ways to define the models. The artistic genre could be used to define a model through the use of its varied characteristics. Some of the theories can form part of the models as they give the abstract information of the real thing. There are many advantages of using the models to produce the knowledge of the world compared to disadvantages. Notes 1. Ibrahim Afaf Meleis, Theoretical nursing: development and progress (Philadelphia, Pa: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2007), 307. 2. Keith Lehrer. "Knowledge, truth and evidence." Analysis 1(August 1965): 168. 3. Peter Kennedy and Carole Ann Kennedy, Using theory to explore health, medicine, and society (Bristol, UK: Policy Press, 2010), 77. 4. Malcolm Gladwell, Outliers the story of success (New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2008), 13. 5. Nicholas Nassim Taleb, The black swan the impact of the highly improbable (London: Penguin, 2008), 22. 6. Jay Stephen Gould, The structure of evolutionary theory (Cambridge, Mass. : Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2002), 22. 7. Vincent Leitch. "Theory Ends." Profession 1( May 2005): 122. 8. Alvin Goldman. "A causal theory of knowing." The Journal of Philosophy 1, (June 1967): 357. 9. Edmund Gettier. "Is justified true belief knowledge?." Analysis 1, (May 1963): 121. 10. Keith Lehrer, and Thomas Paxson. "Knowledge: Undefeated justified true belief." The Journal of Philosophy 1, (August 1969): 225. Bibliography Gettier, Edmund. "Is justified true belief knowledge?." Analysis 1, (May 1963): 121-123. Gladwell, Malcolm. Outliers the story of success. New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2008. Goldman, Alvin. "A causal theory of knowing." The Journal of Philosophy 1, (June 1967): 357- 372. Gould, Stephen Jay. The structure of evolutionary theory. Cambridge, Mass. : Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2002. Kennedy, Peter, and Carole Ann Kennedy. Using theory to explore health, medicine, and society. Bristol, UK: Policy Press, 2010. Lehrer, Keith, and Thomas Paxson. "Knowledge: Undefeated justified true belief." The Journal of Philosophy 1, (August 1969): 225-237. Lehrer, Keith. "Knowledge, truth and evidence." Analysis 1(August 1965): 168-175. Leitch, Vincent. "Theory Ends." Profession 1( May 2005): 122-128. Meleis, Afaf Ibrahim. Theoretical nursing: development and progress. Philadelphia, Pa: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2007. Taleb, Nassim Nicholas. The black swan the impact of the highly improbable. London: Penguin, 2008. Read More