Knowledge Is the True Organ of Sight, not the Eyes - Essay Example

Running head: knowledge Knowledge is the true organ of sight, not the eyes. Generally, psychologists and educationalists believe that knowledge is acquired through the five senses. Of the five senses, eyes are considered to have greater impact on knowledge acquisition because knowledge gained through the sense of sight is clear, accurate and permanent (Sampath, 2007; p.32). These images cannot be easily wiped out. Philosophical advice on knowledge attributes knowledge to reasoning gained through understanding or intellect rather than that acquired through senses every time.

Senses, no doubt, contribute to acquisition of knowledge, or rather awareness and memory, which is subsequently replicated in the form of images from the memory. Quoting Plato’s cave example, Falzon (2002) explains that like Plato’s compelling image of the cave, normal human beings tend to imagine things or believe in things that might merely be shadows or mere appearance, and that real world could be something very different. Knowledge gained through senses creates images that humans tend to imagine again and again, which might not correlate with reality most of the times.

Therefore, knowledge gained through senses might not be appropriate in all situations. Instead, knowledge gained through understanding and rationality helps in misinterpreting the information that senses perceive. It is interesting to note that what we see produces limited knowledge as the information involved is limited; but, what we observe imbibes greater knowledge and information. For example, Placher (1983; p.154) quotes the example of Acquinas’s argument that explained how human beings see the changes in the world; but they realize that the changes happening in any object is because of changes happening elsewhere.

The ability to see the changes happening elsewhere is observation. This observation is important for gaining an understanding of what is happening and its source as well as its outcome. In this manner, distinct events can be related and thus an understanding can be gained, which ultimately leads to improved knowledge. Knowledge gained through the senses creates impressions which are stored in the brain. In the brain, these impressions are processed, which further creates specific perceptions or interpretations based on previously acquired understanding.

Therefore, perception can be created by any of the five senses; however, perception leads to knowing but not complete knowledge. Perceptions formed by people vary, and therefore their understanding or knowledge differs. For example, perceptions about God differ in different people belonging to different religious groups. Finally, Plato’s doctrine of perception is knowledge has been refuted because perception does not provide complete knowledge, and perception can be non-real. Secondly, knowledge consists of truths involving terms which are not objects of perception (Cornford, 2010).

In conclusion, perception creates knowledge only to an extent and has the potential to picture false knowledge; therefore, perception cannot be applied to all subjects. In broader sense, eyes help in seeing objects and form perception, whereas knowledge is resultant of what the senses perceive and relate with previously formed impressions. References Cornford, F.M. (2010). Plato's Theory of Knowledge. Taylor & Francis, Falzon, C. (2002). Philosophy goes to the movies: an introduction to philosophy.

Routledge, London. Placher, W.C. (1983). A history of Christian theology: An introduction. Westminster John Knox Press, Kentucky. Sampath, K. (2007). Introduction to Educational Technology. Sterling Publishers, India.