How Can Different Ways of Knowing to Help Us to Distinguish Something That Is True - Essay Example

How can the different ways of knowing help us to distinguish between something that is true and something that is believed to be true?" Roll No: Class: Subject: Teacher: Date: 1st October 2009 University "How can the different ways of knowing help us to distinguish between something that is true and something that is believed to be true?" We, human beings, are gifted with our senses that help us to attain knowledge of all kinds. With the help of our senses, we differentiate between truth and false but our senses take help of four ways of knowing that are perception, reason, emotion and language. We are able to differentiate between something that is true and something that is believed to be true on the basis of the different ways of knowing. This essay will take into consideration the issue of supportiveness of different ways of knowing in order to assist us in distinguishing between something that is true and something that is believed to be true. In gaining knowledge about something, initially we perceive about a thing, then we add emotions in it, afterwards we find a reason for it and finally we communicate it with the help of language. All the four aspects of knowing that are perception, emotion, reason and language, are entirely crucial for making us know more and more (Morton 128). We cannot gain knowledge if we keep these ways of knowing aside as they contribute towards our success in gaining knowledge. There are many questions that come in our mind when we indulge ourselves in the philosophy of knowledge such as what is knowledge, how we get it and why we get it (Boufoy-Bastick 43). These questions need to be answered for attainment of knowledge. We should be aware that whatever we are going to know is truth or not. We acquire our first language as a birth right due to which, we do not give it much importance. It remains unnoticed (Problems of knowing and linking questions 2009). However, language is something wholly significant as without language, neither we can even communicate and inform people about us nor can we understand them. Emotion is also regarded as opposite to intelligence and reason due to which, it is considered quite low (Problems of knowing and linking questions 2009). We are human beings on the basis of emotions. We can feel and react on the basis of emotions. Without emotions and feelings, we will be just like robotics. Perception is as much significant as other fields of knowledge. It allows us to cater for initial knowledge related to an object. As far as reason is concerned, it allows pondering over the authenticity of an object (Hay 38). Bertrand Russell (1926) informs that theory of knowledge is all about doubting. When we know something, we ask ourselves about the trustworthiness of our attained knowledge (Russell 1926). Usually while gaining knowledge, we differentiate between truth as something that is revealed through facts. Facts are attached to some opinion that is regarded as trustworthy. For that purpose, reasoning gets the maximum importance. Facts are based on reason. We try to believe on something as truth on the basis of reason because reason makes use of our intelligence and is purely a mind activity (Russell 1926). Reason is believed to inform us about the truth related to an object. Knowledge is defined as a belief that is backed by facts (Russell 1926). Beliefs can be wrong as well as true. Beliefs are built on the basis of behavior (Russell 1926). We rely on some occurrence when it continuously occurs the same way and we believe that it will have some certain as usually results. We develop our beliefs on the basis of facts (Russell 1926). When a situation occurs again and again and has the same results always, we believe that it is true. For example, scientists perform experiments for proving something and they put various situations for checking the authenticity of their experimented work. After various attempts, they come to a conclusion and present a theory. The occurrence that has similar results always can be categorized as true and what can go wrong once can be categorized as believed to be true. For example, students assemble in their classes on ringing of a certain bell. They believe that the bell is a call for them to get assembled in their classes. For them, the situation is true as it happens always. However, if on some day, the bell goes wrong, the belief of students will be wrong but that does not happen always as the situation will be the same when the bell gets repaired. We perceive about the authenticity of a situation on the basis of reason (Boufoy-Bastick 49). We take support of language in order to reveal our gained knowledge and we make use of our emotions to put colors in a situation. Truth is something that has meaning and is true in all cases (Boufoy-Bastick 45). For example, we are attracted towards the center of earth is a truth. It is not our belief but the fact that the earth contains gravity due to which, we are attracted towards it. This fact is revealed after many experiments and all experiments have given the same results about earth’s attraction. We believe on this truth on the basis of reason and logic. The reasons and logics are based on some experimentation (Hay 46). We perceive something as factual when we see the results same as always. Our perceptions inform about prior knowledge related to an object or an occurrence (Russell 1926). We can perceive about a situation that we do not know in actuality and we can have a belief in it. On the basis of our perceptions, we can belief in the authenticity of a situation or an object but without reasoning, logic and experimentation, we cannot categorize it as true. It is only our belief that it is true but unit and unless, there are some facts attached to it, we cannot rely as absolute truth (Boufoy-Bastick 51). For the practical definition of truth, we have to take facts into consideration. On the basis of our perceptions, we can rely on something as believed to be true but not as wholly true (Hay 42). Therefore, our perceptions inform us about our belief about something as true. Perception is entirely essential for the acquisition of knowledge as we have to make use of our perceptions for some initial linking of some knowledge (Problems of knowing and linking questions 2009). Without perceiving, we cannot enter the later stages of knowledge acquisition. Emotions also play a crucial role in knowledge acquisition. It is usually perceived that emotions distract us for taking righteous decisions and proper knowledge (Problems of knowing and linking questions 2009). However, this perception is not right. Emotions help us to understand ourselves and self-knowledge is very essential in order to be successful with other kinds of knowledge (Morton 134). Emotions and feelings are regarded as opposite to rationality, reason and logic but they also form a greater part of human personality and enable us to acquire knowledge. With the knowledge that is attained through emotions can be believed as true but not factually true. For example, a girl can think emotionally that her beloved can do anything for her security and this emotional knowledge can go wrong if the perceived results are not there. The knowledge that is based on emotions can be true as well as untrue (Boufoy-Bastick 42). Therefore, it is a believed knowledge not the factual one. It is the believed truth, not the actual one. Reason is very important in terms of authenticity of truth. People usually rely on reason for knowledge attainment (Russell 1926). Facts are attained on the basis of reason and rationality. Reason is thought as a brain activity (Hay 55). The knowledge that is believed to be true is assessed in terms of its accuracy by means of facts and figures and finally on the basis of reason, the knowledge is accepted as true and factual. We can distinguish about knowledge that is believed to be true and actually true on the basis of reason. Language is highly crucial in distinguishing truth or belief of truth. It is language that allows us to reveal our attained knowledge, discuss it and assess it against any other knowledge. What is believed to be true and what is true can be proved by making use of language rationally. Through the usage of language, we can elaborate our doubts as well as facts related to a situation or object with the help of which, truth and believed truth can be differentiated (Hay 49). The four ways of knowing that are perception, emotion, reason and language are supportive in making us to decide between truth and believed truth. Truth can be accessed on the basis of facts. The believed truth can be erroneous but the truth is always the same. What we believe to be true can result as untrue but what is true remains true and our senses with the help of the ways of knowing enable us to assess the truth in terms of its authenticity and reliability. Works Cited Boufoy-Bastick, Z. "Introducing Applicable Knowledge as a Challenge to the Attainment of Absolute Knowledge", Sophia Journal of Philosophy, 8 (2005): 39-51. Hay, Clare. The Theory of Knowledge. Cambridge: The Lutterworth Press, 2008. pp. 32-55. Morton, Adam. A Guide through the Theory of Knowledge (Third Edition) Oxford: Blackwell Publishing, 2002. pp. 128-140. Problems of Knowing and Linking Questions. Accessed on 29th September from http://www.amyscott.com/WAYS%20OF%20KNOWING%20LInking.pdf Russell, Bertrand. Theory of Knowledge. 1926. Accessed on 30th September 2009 from http://www.marxists.org/reference/subject/philosophy/works/en/russell1.htm Read More