Doubt Is the Key to Knowledge - Report Example

Theory of Knowledge “Doubt is the key to knowledge” (Persian Proverb). To what extent is this true in two areas of knowledge? Grade Tutor’s name:- Date:-25/08/2010 Introduction Henry David Thoreau once quoted that to know that we know what we know, and that we do not know what we do not know, that is true knowledge. (Thinkexist.com) It is highly important and significant to comprehend this very obvious fact that knowledge and information cannot be used as synonyms and do not bear one and the same meaning. There may be cases where information is simply gained and acquired but not made use of. However, knowledge is what we achieve when we use the gained information in the light of experience and an assortment of instincts. It won’t be improper to say that knowledge is a pre-requisite for the success, prosperity and the flourishing of any place; be it the largest superpower of the world or a small village in the least developed country of the world. Knowledge is needed and sought everywhere. Theory of knowledge:- An assortment of hypothesis and theories revolve around this exceedingly note-worthy subject. However, the theory of knowledge manages to succeed in getting to the top of the list. The theory of knowledge was introduced by a philosopher who was Scottish in nature, by the name of James Frederick Ferrier (1808–1864). He possesses the honor of introducing this term in the English language. Theory of knowledge is a significant branch of philosophy and this theory circles and revolves around the limitations, horizon and nature of knowledge itself. The theory adheres to numerous questions such as what is knowledge and how is it acquired and achieved, how do people get to know a ton of interesting and exciting things and how do we know what we know. The theory of knowledge also manages to create links and establish bridges between other notions such as belief, truth and justification. Problems of knowledge Tightly bound with the theory of knowledge is the problem of knowledge. The supreme and chief predicament of knowledge is epistemology. Man’s search and hunt for vast amounts of knowledge and his intense and burning desire to comprehend and fully understand the essence, charm and the infinite features of knowledge proves to be a lethal task with even more lethal consequences. Every single thing that a man philosophizes has his knowledge as the only solid base. However, if the knowledge possessed is deemed improper and considered inappropriate, then automatically the philosophy thought of bears no importance whatsoever. Hence, epistemology holds the status of the supreme problem of knowledge. Following this, there exist numerous other problems of knowledge revolving around ethics, morality, values, religion and language. Doubt In accordance with Rene Descartes’ perception and thinking fashion, if you would be a real seeker after truth, it is necessary that at least once in your life you doubt, as far as possible, all things.(send wise cards) Heavily related to this is another highly famous Persian proverb which say that doubt is the key to knowledge. This is highly true and is witnessed since man drew his first breath on the face of the earth. Doubt is truly a key to knowledge as doubt manages to stir and arouse curiosity into our minds, our souls and our hearts. An appreciative quantity of doubt enables us to question the things and philosophies which people have been following and staunchly believing since they were first formed. If mankind would fail to doubt and question everything and anything, then nobody would ever go beyond these beliefs, nobody would possess the power and the courage to surpass these beliefs; be they considered right or wrong. Arguments would simply fail to work if nobody would doubt their opinions, decisions or the analysis. Ways of knowing Ways and means of knowing fall into four categories:- 1. Perception 2. Language 3. Reasoning 4. Emotion The ways and means to acquire and gain knowledge can not to equally divided and distributed amongst these four categories Different people adopt and absorb different ways of knowing. One person may be a huge fan of language as a way to gain knowledge while his best friend can adore reasoning as a mean to possess more knowledge. Areas of knowledge The areas of knowledge are different territories or disciplines which are positioned and situated in the perimeter of the theory of knowledge. They are the areas in which knowledge is categorically classified. The areas of knowledge are:- 1. Natural Sciences 2. Mathematics 3. Ethics 4. Art 5. Human science 6. History However, due to the limitations of the essay, only the first two areas of knowledge are taken into consideration when demonstrating and proving the highly prominent reality that doubt is the key to knowledge. Natural science Natural sciences depict the efforts taken out by individuals to doubt, be curious and consequently gain knowledge regarding the fashion and mannerism in which the world functions. Natural sciences form a web where discoveries, inventions and improved and enhanced technologies are all inter-mingled. When it comes to the role played by doubt in this very weighty area of knowledge, doubt has truly played a humongous role in making the world what it is today. It is due to doubt only various discoveries are made. It is due to curiosity only that mankind is seen living a life of ultimate convenience and infinite luxury. It is due to questioning only that every day, new innovations are being witnessed and applied into our daily lives. An assortment of examples are worth-mentioning stories exists on how doubt led ordinary people to discover and invent extra-ordinary inventions; those inventions that have today become a vital part of our lives. Windshield wipers In 1903, a lady by the name of Mary Anderson saw a shivering woman get out of the car and sweep her car’s windshield to remove the water and the ice. Mary grew curious and doubted whether there existed a way in which the removing of the water and the ice can be done automatically instead of manually. She came home and scribbled of drawing of what was the world’s very first windshield wiper mechanism. The mechanism was such that the driver can wipe his or her windshield form inside the car only. Further doubt and curiosity led Charlotte Bridgwood to invent an enhanced version of the wipers. In 1916, these wipers became a vital part of the cars and today no car can ever be imaged without this incredibly fundamental component. Leak proof Fountain pen Similarly, doubt played the key role in making an insurance solicitor in New York City invent the leak proof fountain pen in 1844. He was about to sign a very important contract when the pen’s ink leaked and ruined the entire document. Doubt and curiosity helped as Lewis Waterman invented this leak proof pen which proved to be a revolutionary invention. Mathematics Bertrand Russell rightly said in 1917 that mathematics may be defined as the subject in which we never know what we are talking about, or whether what we are saying is true. This clearly demonstrates the fact that doubt is the basis of knowledge when it comes to the area of ever-expanding mathematics. From the theory of knowledge perspective, mathematics poses as a very special and unique area of knowledge. Whatever discoveries, formulas and hypothesis that are present in the books of today are based only on doubt and curiosity. Mathematicians questioned. Mathematicians doubted. Mathematicians discovered. Mathematicians invented. (Bertrand Russell) Doubt led Hindus to discover that negative numbers represent debts in 628 AD. Doubt made John Wallis to use the modern day infinity symbol in 1655. Doubt led Thomas Twining to use the diagonal bars for fractions. Doubt also enabled Francois Vieta to discover and claim that letters are made use of for variables and unknowns. The above mentioned theories, inventions and discoveries also portray the reality that a very strong link and an unbreakable bride exists between the theory of knowledge, ways of acquiring knowledge and the areas of knowledge. Conclusion To sum it up, knowledge plays a decidedly vital and a truly important role in creating, managing and the succeeding of societies and cultures. Cultures thrive and flourish. Societies doubt, learn and make it to the pinnacle of success and prosperity. All the greatest societies of the world have made profound use of doubt as a significant and handy tool for gaining knowledge and then utilizing that knowledge to better their conditions, improve their environment and to raise their standards of living. All of this clearly portrays the fact that doubt is the key to knowledge and if doubt would not have taken birth on the face of the earth, today the world would still have been a place where man would live in a cave, cover his vital parts with vegetation and eat leaves and twigs. Bibliography 23 October 2007. 25 August 2010 . Alchin, Nicholas. Theory of Knowledge. London: John Murray, 2002. Cohen, Sam. "Virtue." D.Beckers edition of Ethics. (1999): 1-3. Corduan, Winfried. No Doubt about it: The Case for Christainity. 1997. Delaney, CF. "Theory of Knowledge in the Synoptic Vision: Essays on the Philosophy of Wilfrid Sellars." Philosophy of Knowledge. 25 August 2010 . International Baccalaureate Organization. "ibsca Curriculum Content Guide." Curriculum Guide. 2009. —. "Theory of Knowledge Guide." March 2006: 3-4. Jeff Fergurson, Peter Juliff. Key Areas of Knowledge. Research Paper. Sydney: Australian Computer Society Incorporated, n.d. Kaneyoshi, Izumi. Doubt!! Vol. 6. 2006. Lehrer. "Percieving Theory of Knowledge." Theory of Website. 25 August 2010 . Lehrer, Keith. "Theory of Knowledge." Questia Online Library. 25 August 2010 . Michaels, David. Doubt is Their Product: How Industrys Assault on Science Threatens Your Health. 2008, n.d. Ortberg, John. Faith and Doubt. 2008. "Problems of Knowing And Linking Questions." 25 August 2010 . Send Wise Cards. 25 August 2010 . Shanley, John Patrick. Doubt: A Parable. 2007. Smith, John. "Knowledge." The Times 23 October 2007: 1. Think Exist Quotes. 25 August 2010 . TOK Questions. 25 August 2010 . Read More